Visit the Irish Heart Foundation’s stand at Row 31, Stand 653, at the National Ploughing Championships 2019, for a free heart health check

The Irish Heart Foundation is heading to the National Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co Carlow next week, where it will provide free blood pressure and pulse checks as well as lifestyle advice and heart health information.

The National Ploughing Championships 2019 takes place from Tuesday the 17th, to Thursday the 19th of September and the event is expected to attract 1,700 exhibitors and more than 240,000 visitors.

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has a longstanding engagement in raising heart health awareness for farmers in marts, Glanbia sites through the Irish Farmers Association and the Ploughing Championships for many years and this will be the charity’s 11th year at the event.

Visitors to the Irish Heart Foundation’s stand at Row 31, Stand 653 will be offered a free blood pressure and pulse check, lifestyle advice and heart health information. They can also learn about the vital work of the Irish Heart Foundation in communities across Ireland in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Using a virtual reality tool, ‘A Journey into your Heart’, attendees can see for themselves in 3D, what a heart looks like when it is suffering from atrial fibrillation (an irregular pulse).

Atrial fibrillation (sometimes called A Fib) causes the heart to beat in a disorganised and irregular way which can lead to a range of symptoms and potential complications, including stroke, permanent heart damage and heart failure.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and heart attack in Ireland and is a silent killer, while people with untreated atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke. People with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation often have no symptoms. The vast majority or 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable, so it is important that the public take the opportunity to receive their free check to help catch these conditions in time.

Marese Damery, Health Check Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation, said, “Research has shown that farmers are a high-risk group for heart disease and stroke. The Irish Heart Foundation has been providing health checks to farmers at marts since 2013 through our Farmers Have Hearts programme. 80 per cent of farmers who have attended these checks were at risk of heart disease and stroke, so we are delighted to be attending the National Ploughing Championships which gives farmers, their families and friends an opportunity to get checked for free.

“We support farmers and people in all communities in living longer, healthier lives and by providing these free heart health checks and health information, we aim to help people make positive changes to their lifestyles.”

Dr Declan O’Callaghan, Medical Director, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, said, “Pfizer is delighted to support the Irish Heart Foundation’s presence at the National Ploughing Championships this year in Carlow. We would encourage everyone attending to visit for their free heart health check and use the virtual reality tool to get an insight into your heart.”

The Irish Heart Foundation’s presence at the National Ploughing Championships is supported by Pfizer Bristol-Myers Squibb.

For more information and advice on your heart health please see here