Gym's heartfelt effort for charity

Trainers from 5ive Element Fitness will be doing a lot of burpees this month with members paying them to do the dreaded exercise to raise funds for Australia’s biggest killer.

Gyms in Morayfield, Strathpine and North Lakes are taking part in REDFEB, an initiative by Heart Research Australia to raise awareness about heart disease.

Each gym is hoping to raise $2000 by asking members to donate $1 towards the trainer of their choice, with the trainer then made to do one burpee.

Jayde Beilby from 5ive Element Fitness said they were happy to raise money for this worthy cause.

“Why 5ive Element Fitness chose to support REDFEB is because of our slogan - Where's your heart at?” Ms Beilby said.

“It’s not just the outsides that matter with any transformation - we take a great deal of interest in people’s internal results as well.

“We use heart rate technology at every studio, so our trainers can monitor if you’re working hard enough.”

Symptoms to watch out for

Sadly, one person will die  of heart disease every 30 minutes, making it Australia's biggest killer. 

Heart attacks are caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart.

While men may experience chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath and nausea, the symptoms are much harder to diagnose in women.

Symptoms women need to be aware of include back, neck or jaw pain, tightness or burning sensation in the chest, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, light-headedness, nausea, shortness of breath and sweating.

Cardiologist Dr Ashleigh Dind said women are more at risk of heart disease after menopause.

“As women reach their 50s and navigate menopause, their risk factors for heart disease are more likely to increase as the protection they have received from oestrogen declines,” Dr Dind said.

“Oestrogen plays an important role within women’s bodies. One of the many things Oestrogen helps do is keep the blood vessels in the body stable and functioning well.

“With less oestrogen, women are more likely to develop plaque in the arteries surrounding the heart or have this plaque rupture, increasing the risk of a heart attack.

“Therefore, it is very important for women to create healthy habits before they reach menopause as that is when their risk of developing heart disease will accelerate.”

How you can save a life 

To help save more lives, Heart Research Australia have released two new educational videos on its website and are distributing a free wallet card, outlining a detailed action plan on what to do if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

Anybody can help raise awareness for Heart Research Australia by wearing red throughout the month, which represents someone close to your heart.

You can also donate online at www.heartresearch.com.au