Free heart health checks are coming to Limerick next month as part of a national effort to raise awareness of heart failure, a condition often misunderstood and diagnosed too late.
The Crescent Shopping Centre will host a pop-up Heart Failure Awareness Roadshow on May 7 from 10am to 2pm, offering members of the public free heart health checks and the opportunity to speak directly with specialist nurses.
The event is part of a wider national campaign led by the Irish Heart Foundation, Croí, and the Irish Association of Heart Failure Nurses.
Dr Angie Brown, Medical Director at the Irish Heart Foundation, emphasized that heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped, but rather that it is not pumping blood as effectively as it should.
She added that with early diagnosis, treatment, and support, people can live well, and that bringing information into everyday public spaces is key to changing understanding.
Heart failure affects an estimated 137,000 people in Ireland, with around 10,000 new diagnoses each year, and is the leading cause of hospitalisation among people over 65.
Despite this, awareness of the condition remains low, according to experts.
Dr Lisa Hynes, Head of Health Programmes at Croí, said the roadshow aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to recognise symptoms early and seek help.
The Irish Heart Foundation’s Mobile Health Unit provides up to 10,000 free blood pressure checks annually to communities around Ireland, with 64% of people over 50 years old in Ireland having high blood pressure—a leading risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and heart attacks.
During a heart health check, expert nurses check blood pressure and pulse, provide heart health information and lifestyle advice, and advise individuals to see their GP for further tests if atrial fibrillation is detected.