The Heart Foundation says there are a number of key risk factors when it comes to heart disease, including: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, smoking and obesity.

Forbes tops the list for the most inactive population in the Central West, with 78 per cent of residents not physically active enough to maintain good health.

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This is compared to the national rate of 66 per cent.

In Cowra and Hilltops 74 per cent of residents are not physically active, this is followed by Lithgow and Parkes (73 per cent), Mid-Western (72 per cent), Orange and Western Plains (71 per cent), and Bathurst (69 per cent).

The national obesity rate may be 28 per cent, but it is far higher in the Central West with Forbes top of the list with 42 per cent of its residents rated as obese.

This is followed by Western Plains (40 per cent), Parkes (39 per cent), Lithgow and Orange (38 per cent), while Bathurst, Mid Western and Hilltops are 37 per cent.

Smoking rates in the Central West are also much higher than the national average of 16 per cent.

In Cowra, Lithgow, Mid Western and Parkes 24 per cent of resident smoke, in the Hilltops 23 per cent residents have the habit, while the rate drops to 22 per cent in Forbes.

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Hospitalisation rates for heart-related issues in Hilltops, Lithgow, Orange, Orange, Parkes and Western Plains are higher than the national average.

While heart disease mortality rates in every Central West location, except Lithgow, are higher than the national average.

This Heart Week - which runs from April 28 to May 4 - Heart Foundation chief executive officer Kerry Doyle has urged Central West residents to get a Heart Health Check.

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They became available under Medicare on April 1, 2019 and are recommended for Australians aged 45 years and older, and Indigenous people from 30 years old.

Ms Doyle said the check will help people understand their risk of heart attack and stroke.

She estimates that nationally, the Heart Health Check could prevent 76,500 heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease during the next five years, avoiding 42 heart events daily.

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"Heart disease is the single biggest killer in NSW, yet we know that many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented by managing key risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol and other lifestyle choices," Ms Doyle said.

"Heart disease is not always obvious - having a heart attack could be your first sign. Don't wait for chest pain, it could be too late."