RTÉ broadcaster Marty Morrissey will be in Letterkenny this weekend with the Irish Heart Health Clinic to promote their free blood pressure check service.
The unit will be at Letterkenny Shopping Centre on Friday from 10am to 6pm and at the Enterprise Town event in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Marese Damery, Health Check Manager, said high blood pressure is estimated to affect almost one million people in Ireland and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and, significantly, it is the biggest risk factor for stroke.
She said: “80% of premature cardiovascular disease is caused by adverse lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, an unhealthy diet, a lack of physical activity, and harmful alcohol use. These risk factors also contribute to high blood pressure but by making positive changes to these lifestyle factors, people can reduce their risk of high blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.”
Irish Heart’s mobile health unit incorporates two professional consultation rooms where attendees can avail of free blood pressure checks. Nurses will provide individual/tailored lifestyle advice and information on next steps including managing blood pressure and following up with a GP, if necessary.