Cardiovascular disease remains one of Australia’s leading causes of death — and general practice sits at the heart of prevention, early detection and timely escalation.

In this Heart Week episode of sMater, host Jillian Whiting and GP specialist Dr Maria Boulton are joined by Dr Nick Aroney, interventional and structural cardiologist at Mater, to unpack what frontline clinicians need to know right now.

Together they explore:

• How much heart disease is truly preventable
• When CT coronary calcium scoring can change management
• Navigating statins, soft plaque and patient resistance
• Recognising atypical presentations, particularly in women
• When symptoms should trigger urgent escalation
• The quiet progression of valvular heart disease — and why auscultation still matters
• How advances like TAVI, AF ablation and heart–brain teams are reshaping outcomes

This is a practical, evidence‑informed conversation designed to support everyday decision‑making in general practice — when to reassure, when to escalate, and how evolving cardiology care can change lives.

sMater is a podcast by clinicians, for clinicians, brought to you by Mater.

To learn more about Mater, visit https://www.mater.org.au/