Dying from a heart attack is less likely than it was 10 years ago, new research shows.
A study on chronic illness from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found the news on heart disease was improving, but the outlook for lung cancer was far more negative.
The institute looked at 12 illnesses which are a major burden on the health system.
"There is no doubt that the incidence of heart attacks and deaths after heart attacks are trending downwards and daily smoking rates continue to decline so that, currently, under 20 per cent of adults smoke daily," said Ilona Brockway from the institute in a statement.
The research showed there was a 32 per cent decrease in heart disease amongst males between 1994 and 2005 while in the same period there was a 34 per cent decline for women, the study found.
Worryingly, the rate of lung cancer amongst women has increased since 1982.
Just 14 per cent of women survive beyond five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
"In the last four years a plateau in incidence rates can be observed," the study said.
"However, more data is required before a change in trend is verified."
On top of this the institute also discovered about 66 per cent of adults are not exercising enough to have any impact on their health.
For indigenous people the story is much worse and the gap between the health of indigenous and non-indigenous people remains startling.
About half of all adult Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders smoke.
"For indigenous Australians living in remote areas of Australia the rates are higher, averaging 55 per cent," the study said.
The institute also references other reports to paint another despairing picture of indigenous health.
"In 2004, the proportion of low birthweight live born babies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers was 13 per cent."
Indigenous people were also more likely to suffer from diabetes, the institute said.
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