Croí Targets Over 50's in Heart Health Drive!

Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation are offering over 50’s in Galway city & county the opportunity to avail of a FREE cardiac risk assessment as part of its innovative ‘Heart Smart’ programme. Free assessments are being offered to people over the age of 50, who have not attended their GP for a cholesterol or blood pressure check in the past year.

The ‘Croí Heart Smart’ programme will be offered over 2 days, namely Wednesday, March 31st and Friday, April 9th in the Croí Heart Health Centre, Centrepoint, Liosban Business Park. Places which must be booked in advance, will be offered on a first-come-first- served basis. The Croí Heart Checks only take 20 minutes with individuals being assessed for cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist circumference. All those who avail of this check up will be given lifestyle advice in relation to their diet and exercise levels and everyone who attends will receive a personal record of their results as well as a copy of the Croí Healthy Heart Kit.

Speaking about the event Croí Nurse Irene Gibson says “many people do not realise that they are at risk of heart disease or stroke as there are often no symptoms. The only way to know your risk is to have your risk factors assessed”

Recent research conducted by Croí has highlighted that over 50% of people in the West of Ireland do not attend their GP for screening and yet over 40% of these people had high blood pressure and cholesterol. This is alarming says Gibson, “as heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among men and women in Ireland and it is highly preventable.”

To avail of a FREE cardiac risk assessment you must be over 50 years of age and have not attended your GP for a cholesterol and blood pressure check in the past year. To make an appointment or for further enquiries please call the Croí Heart Health Centre on 091 893500 or 091 480816