Orange residents are more likely to die as a result of coronary heart disease than anywhere else in the Central West, according to new data.
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National health data shows in the past five years around 10 per cent of all deaths in the region can be traced back to this killer condition but in Orange that number jumps to just over 12 per cent.
In the Orange local government area, 12.2 per cent of all deaths were from heart disease.
That's above the national rate of 12.1 per cent.
A Western NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said it's never too early or late to manage your risk of heart disease and improve your heart health.
"Heart disease is the biggest killer in Australia and can be brought on by poor lifestyle choices such as: smoking; being above a healthy weight and/or making too many unhealthy food and drink choices; risky alcohol consumption; and not getting enough exercise," she said.
"To reduce your risk of heart disease, it is recommended to quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, increase exercise and improve your diet."
The spokeswoman urged people to include plenty of healthy foods and limit unhealthy options that are high in saturated fat, sugars and salt.
"Diabetes, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, particularly if these medical problems are not treated," she said.
"Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, these include: age, gender, ethnicity and family history.
"If you are worried about your heart health, book in to your local health professional to discuss your concerns and get a check-up."
In other major centres the rate of coronary heart disease is almost two per cent lower, with Bathurst at 10.6 per cent, Dubbo at 10.5, Mid-Western at 10.3 and Lithgow at 9.4 all below the national average.
Rounding out the rest of the top five causes of death in the LGAs were stroke, lung disease, lung cancer and dementia (including Alzheimer's disease).
Accidental falls was the 13th most common way to die in Orange with 29 deaths, while it figured 15th nationwide with 13,466 people dying this way during the five-year period.
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