Australia health update
Can a mammogram also check my heart health?
By Patrick LeachPublisher: HerDoc
Not as part of routine breast screening yet. Australian researchers have developed a tool that uses mammogram images and a woman’s age to estimate her risk of future heart and blood vessel problems. It could eventually add a heart-health assessment to breast screening, but it still needs further testing. For now, speak with your GP about checking your heart health separately. Australian Government research update.
Sources checked: .
What has been announced?
A 1 November 2026 government update highlights work by The George Institute for Global Health into whether one screening visit could help identify both breast cancer and cardiovascular risk.
The study was published in 2025. The November update highlights its potential, but does not announce a new test you can book through BreastScreen.
The idea is to make more use of images already collected during breast screening, potentially reaching women whose heart-health risks have not been assessed. The George Institute explains the research.
How could a breast image help assess heart risk?
The researchers used machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to look for patterns in mammogram images that could help predict future problems such as heart attacks and strokes. The tool combines those patterns with a woman’s age.
Their study included more than 49,000 women in Victoria, linking screening mammograms with hospital and death records. Within this group, the tool distinguished higher from lower risk about as well as a model using clinical information. This was not a direct comparison with the established risk calculators used in GP care.
That is promising, but predicting future risk is different from diagnosing a current heart problem. The tool still needs testing with other groups of women and in different screening services before clinical use. The study does not show that adding the tool to routine screening prevents heart attacks or saves lives. Read the original study in Heart.
Does a normal mammogram mean my heart is healthy?
No. A normal breast-screening result does not mean you have a low risk of heart disease. Blood pressure, cholesterol and other heart-health risks still need to be assessed separately.
BreastScreen Australia’s current purpose is to find breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Women aged 50–74 are invited for a free mammogram every two years. If you are outside that age range, check the program’s screening information or discuss your circumstances with your doctor.
How can I check my heart health now?
Your GP can assess your risk using your health history and checks such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Smoking, diabetes and family history also affect your risk.
A Heart Health Check estimates your chance of a heart attack or stroke over the next five years and helps you and your GP agree on ways to reduce that risk. Ask which assessment is right for your age and health history, and check the practice’s fees when booking. The Heart Foundation explains what the check involves.
You could ask: “What does my heart risk look like, what can I change, and when should we check again?” Have any recent results and a list of medicines handy. Before the appointment ends, ask what the findings mean for you and agree on the next step.
What if I have symptoms?
Screening and risk checks are for prevention. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 000 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Symptoms can include chest pressure or pain, breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain in the jaw, back or arms. Do not wait for a screening appointment. Healthdirect’s heart-attack advice.
For a new breast lump, nipple discharge or another breast change, see your GP promptly rather than waiting for your next routine screen. BreastScreen NSW explains why symptoms need assessment.