March 1st - Erris Leads the Way with Healthy Heart Talk!

Date: Tuesday 1st March at 8pm
Venue: The Heritage Centre, Aughleam, Blacksod.

The Erris community are leading the way in the fight against heart disease and stroke by working with local heart charity Croí, in partnership with HSE West Mayo PCCC (Primary, Community & Continuing Care) by hosting a meeting to promote heart health and raise awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

This FREE Public Meeting and open forum on ‘Reducing your risk of Heart Disease and Stroke – A Lifestyle Approach’ will take place on Tuesday 1st March at 8pm in The Heritage Centre, Aughleam, Blacksod. The guest speaker is Ailish Houlihan, Co-ordinator of the ‘Heart Smart’ Mayo Programme which is a collaboration between Croí and Mayo Primary, Community and Continuing Care.

The ‘Heart Smart’ Mayo Programme aims to reduce the impact of heart disease and stroke in Mayo and recently launched a report on the findings of a year long community based cardiac risk factor screening programme in Co. Mayo. A total 1,541 people availed of ‘free-of-charge’ cardiac risk assessments, which found that almost half (49%) the participants had raised cholesterol (above the recommended levels) and 40% had raised blood pressure. In total, almost two thirds (64%) of all participants were referred to their general practitioner with as many as 7% requiring urgent medical attention for either raised blood pressure or raised blood sugar levels. Taken together, the findings of this report show that as many as one in five Mayo people over the age of 40 are classified as ‘high risk’ for a fatal cardiovascular event such as heart attack or stroke.

Speaking about the event Croi ‘Heart Smart’ Co-ordinator Ailish Houlihan says “many people do not realise that they can be at risk of heart disease as there are, often, no symptoms. This meeting offers an ideal opportunity for people living in the Erris region to learn more about early prevention with a view to reducing their risk and living a longer and healthier life’”.

To find out more about ‘Heart Smart’ Mayo contact Ailish Houlihan on 094-9049172 or for further information on your heart health contact Croi Heart Health Centre on 091-893500 or log onto www.croi.ie