The Irish Heart Foundation’s Mobile Health Unit featured on RTE’s Fair City last night, with an important message for viewers and cast members alike

The Irish Heart Foundation joined the cast of Ireland’s favourite soap last night (Sunday 02 February 2020) with its Mobile Health Unit playing a staring role.

The Mobile Health Unit, which regularly travels around the country providing free heart health checks, featured in the opening scenes and throughout last night’s episode which also starred Irish Heart Foundation nurse Catherine Bellew and our Health Check Manager Marese Damery.

The Mobile Health Unit was in Carrickstown to carry out free heart health checks, which include blood pressure and pulse checks as well as lifestyle advice and heart health information.

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 to get checked and it was great to see the Irish Heart Foundation’s mobile health unit take centre stage on Fair City last night to bring this important message to viewers.

Commenting on the Mobile Health Unit’s starring role, Marese Damery, Health Check Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation said, “It was fantastic to meet the cast in Fair City and great to see them taking their blood pressure seriously, in particular we know in Ireland more men then women have high blood pressure so it was great to see the encouragement given to the men in Fair City to have theirs checked’

The Irish Heart Foundation’s Mobile Health Unit has carried out 36,000 free heart health checks in communities across the country since its launch in 2016.

The Mobile Health Unit has two professional consultation rooms where people can avail of free, non-invasive heart health checks. Nurses provide lifestyle advice and information on the next steps including managing blood pressure and following up with a GP if necessary.

As well as soap operas we also reach people in different community settings such as community and family resource centres, Men’s Shed groups, traveller groups, shopping centres, town squares, Community First Responder groups, farmers in marts and others.

With corporate sponsorship, the Mobile Health Unit can continue to raise awareness of and identify risks of heart disease and stroke in local communities and groups.

In July 2019, the Irish Heart Foundation and Pfizer Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a new partnership which will see Pfizer Bristol-Myers Squibb sponsor the Irish Heart Foundation’s Mobile Health Unit for six months as part of their efforts to help people live healthier lives.

Keep an eye on our Mobile Health Unit schedule and avail of your FREE blood pressure and pulse check test. All it takes is 10 minutes and it could save your life. If you’d like to book the Mobile Health Unit – Tel: 01 6685001 or email Mobile Health Unit Administrator Emma Carter or Health Check Manager, Marese Damery.