Two USC academics will give talks at the Sunshine Coast Heart Week Expo at Birtinya on Saturday 29 April to encourage more people to make lifestyle changes for heart health.

At 10am, Associate Professor Chris Askew will discuss the role of exercise as part of the management of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions.

Dr Askew, an exercise physiologist and a USC Senior Research Fellow, will provide insights into the work of his VasoActive research group, demonstrating how “exercise is medicine”.

“Members of our group also will be offering free vascular assessments and showing some of the measurements used in cardiovascular research,” he said. “This will include blood pressure checks and vascular-stiffness assessments.”

At 11.30am, USC Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics Dr Hattie Wright will explain how people can lower their blood pressure readings through what they eat, especially through reducing their salt intake.

“Making healthy lifestyle changes are recommended to help manage high blood pressure levels, and the food we choose to eat is one such change,” she said.

The talks will be held at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute auditorium, near the expo at the Village Park in Bragg Street.

USC students also will be supporting the Sunshine Coast Council-run event, from 9am to noon on Saturday as part of National Heart Week.

The council and the health and wellbeing sector aim to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through activities such as yoga and cooking.

— Julie Schomberg