DEATH may come to all of us, but in the Central West the most likely cause is coronary heart disease.
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National health data shows that in the past five years around 10 per cent of all deaths in the region can be traced back to this killer condition.
In the Orange local government area, 12.2 per cent of all deaths were from heart disease which is above the national rate of 12.1 per cent.
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In other major centres the rate is lower, with Bathurst at 10.6 per cent, Dubbo at 10.5, Mid-Western at 10.3 and Lithgow at 9.4.
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).
Strokes killed 520 people in this area and accounted for an average of 7.1 per cent of all deaths, with highest rate of 8.5 per cent in Lithgow.
Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, accounted for an average of 6.5 per cent of deaths (483 people), with Mid-Western the highest at 7.5 per cent.
Lung disease killed 478 people (an average of 6.3 per cent of all deaths) during the reporting period, the highest rate was in Dubbo at 7.0 per cent.
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While 369 people died of lung cancer (an average of 5.0 per cent in the LGAs), with the highest rate in Lithgow and Mid-Western at 5.7 per cent each.
To compare causes of death by LGA and across the nation the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare had the grim task of counting 790,538 deaths from 2014-18.
Strokes killed 520 people in this area and accounted for an average of 7.1 per cent of all deaths, with highest rate of 8.5 per cent in Lithgow.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
While the top five causes don't vary much across the Central West, it's once you look a bit lower down the list that you notice some variations.
For example, the rate of death from diabetes in Bathurst (4.0 per cent) and Dubbo (3.3 per cent) was higher than the national rate of 3.0 per cent.
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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.
While land transport accidents ranked 19th in Dubbo (28 deaths) and 15th in the Mid-Western (19 deaths), but it did not figure in the top 20 causes of death in Australia.
How's your heart?
IT'S never too early or late to manage your risk of heart disease and improve your heart health, a Western NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said.
"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."
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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."
More information about heart health and healthy heart lifestyle resources can be found at the Heart Foundation.