The Irish Heart Foundation’s successful heart failure awareness campaign returns with patient information evenings in Sligo and Dublin next month

More than 11,000 people have used the Irish Heart Foundation’s free online symptom checker, KnowYourHeart.ie to educate themselves on the symptoms of heart failure since the launch of the charity’s highly successful heart failure awareness campaign ‘Don’t Ignore the Signs of Heart Failure,’ earlier this year.

The good news is that the campaign, which is supported by Novartis, is returning next month with additional patient information evenings planned for Sligo and Dublin.

The final two information evenings of the campaign will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, on Wednesday November 6th, and the Ashling Hotel, Dublin on Thursday November 7th. Campaign ambassador Michael Lyster will return to make a special guest appearance at the Dublin event.

Heart failure affects approximately 90,000 people in Ireland. It is a highly debilitating, life-threatening condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body, as the walls of the heart become too weak or too stiff to work properly.

The Irish Heart Foundation’s free online symptom checker, available on KnowYourHeart.ie, helps people identify if they are experiencing heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, swollen ankles and fatigue. People can use the checker and download the findings to bring to their GP if they have any concerns about their health.

Speaking about the success of the campaign to date, Michael Lyster, campaign ambassador who lives with heart failure, said: “At the beginning of the campaign, we called on the people of Ireland to make heart failure awareness a top priority. The response to date has been fantastic. Since the beginning of the summer, over 11,000 people visited KnowYourHeart.ie to use the symptom checker, and over 750 attended the information events to learn more about managing their condition. We’re making sure that this once ignored condition gets the attention it deserves, ensuring that anyone experiencing symptoms gets to the doctor and diagnosed as early as possible.”

Dr Angie Brown, Consultant Cardiologist and Medical Director of the Irish Heart Foundation, said: “We are delighted to see so many people who live with heart failure taking control of their condition by seeking information and support. A new diagnosis of heart failure can be intimidating, but it’s important to know you’re not alone. If you’re concerned about heart failure either for yourself or a loved one, please come along to our events, join one of our heart failure support groups across the country, or visit KnowYourHeart.ie to download a personalised symptom report to bring to your GP.”

With access to timely diagnosis, appropriate medical management and follow-up services, people with heart failure can experience a significant improvement in their prognosis and can live a full and active life. Due to Ireland’s ageing population, heart failure is set to increase dramatically, leading to an increase in hospitalisations from heart failure of more than 50 per cent over the next 25 years.

Speaking about Novartis’ continued partnership with the Irish Heart Foundation, Loretto Callaghan, Managing Director, Novartis said: “If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a chronic condition like heart failure, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Novartis is proud to support the Irish Heart Foundation’s campaign and their efforts to raise awareness of heart failure.”

For more information about heart failure, and to use the Irish Heart Foundation’s heart failure symptom checker, visit KnowYourHeart.ie.