MINIMISING heart attack and stroke victims should be at the top of the health services to-do list.

Queenslanders have higher death rates for heart attack and stroke than the rest of Australia, with cardiovascular disease the cause of 30% of deaths in the state, according to the Heart Foundation.

South West Hospital and Health Service acting chief executive Mike Kerin said encouraging locals to consider risk factors such as obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption were much to blame.

"Obesity in particular is a problem in our area with around one in three locals now classified as obese,” Mr Kerin said.

"This puts them at much greater risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”

Mr Kerin was responding to the Heart Foundation's recently released budget submission to the Government designed to reduce admissions and create savings.

Heart Foundation health director Rachelle Foreman said increasing budget spending in certain areas would improve Queenslanders' health.

"The best scenario is stopping the heart attacks before they happen - with greater investment in research and prevention,” Ms Foreman said.

"We also need to invest in cardiac rehabilitation so they can improve their recovery and reduce the

risk of another heart attack.”

The five budget actions included an increase in cardiovascular research, eliminating rheumatic heart disease and improving rehabilitation services.