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ALMOST 6,000 FREE checks were carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation’s (IHF) mobile unit in 2024, with nearly one in four attendees advised to go to a GP for further assessment.
A new report on the IHF mobile health unit showed that in one case a blood pressure reading was so high that, after being examined by their doctor, the patient ended up in an emergency department.
The IHF’s nurse-led vehicle offers free heart health checks across the Republic of Ireland, including blood pressure, pulse checks and lifestyle assessment.
Researchers from South East Technological University (Setu) evaluated its effectiveness and found that dozens of patients needed further check-ups after the nurse identified signs of high blood pressure or hypertension.
High blood pressure is regarded as a “silent killer” and is the leading trigger of cardiovascular disease, the main cause of death globally.
A sample of 300 men and women who used the mobile health unit showed that more than a fifth (22.1%) were found to have high blood pressure, while almost double that number (42.9%) had readings deemed to be higher than normal.
A worryingly high 39.5% reported having no prior awareness of their blood pressure levels and almost a quarter (23.2%) were directed to their GP based on the readings.
Six weeks later, 182 participants completed a follow-up questionnaire over the phone, which also revealed that of those who were directed to their doctor, 28.2% underwent additional testing such as using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor.
A total of 10.3% received a diagnosis of high blood pressure and began taking medication, while 2.6% went to the emergency department due to dangerously high blood pressure levels.
The mobile health unit checks also inspired lifestyle changes among almost half of respondents, with 20.9% making dietary improvements, almost 20% becoming more physically active, a further 1.1% quit smoking and the same proportion reduced or avoided alcohol.
Janis Morrissey, the IHF’s director of health promotion, said the findings are “crucial, as 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable”.
“The mobile health unit service plays a vital role in identifying people at risk of heart disease and stroke.”
She added: “Unfortunately, what you don’t know could kill you as high blood pressure, in the vast majority of cases, has no symptoms. The good news is that, once diagnosed, it is easily managed.
“Everyone aged over 30 should get checked every five years and a GP can assess risk levels and may advise more frequent checks.”
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How do I know if it’s in my area
@Mary Breezer: You could email info@irishheart.ie
@Brendan O’Brien: should people have to go looking for coverage or should they know where to get ot?
@Oh Mammy: Everything should be perfect, of course. But, as of now, it isn’t.
@Brendan O’Brien: defeatist answer. Maybe we should defund NGOs and put the millions into the HSE
Maybe one day in rural Ireland we’ll be able to get a GP, a disgrace.
@Brian D’Arcy: Its no better here in Dublin, possibly worse. My GP is often 10-15 days booked out. Going to get worse, 25% of GPs are due to retire in the next 5 years. It’s amazing with all the essential immigration we are building less and waiting longer.
@Brian D’Arcy: GPs in Ireland are private practitioners, there’s none in your area because none want to work there. Not the Government’s fault.
@Brian D’Arcy: Personally think GPs should be more mobile, makes way more sense to move around one person rather than some 30 individuals they may see in a day, more traffic, more octogenarian’s in accidents, more expense, anyway, I’m sure there’s a ‘shoestring excuse’ that see’s this idea unusable.
@JohnDoe: plenty of GPs near me. Still can’t get an appointment when we’re sick. At the start of December I called several GP practices near me as my 10 year old was very sick. 4 days was the earliest appointment they could give me. Ended up having to drive him to Layla in Carrickmines to get him looked at. Brought him to Wexford hospital and waited 6 hours and didn’t get seen, I ended up driving him to Layla health in Cherrywood and was seen within 20 mins. Absolutely ridiculous carry on for a supposedly first world health care system.
@Thesaltyurchin: Ridiculous. Think of the time wasted by having doctors driving all over the place! They’d lose half the day.
@Nick Vasilakis: And there it is!! The do nothing brigade, no hybrid model, no suggestions, just ‘no’… we bemoan and laugh at the DUP for their stubbornness but we’re worse… thank you Nick
As someone who has already had a heart attack 12 years ago and now almost 60 checking your blood pressure is really so important.
Sure medication will lower your blood pressure it will fix the numbers for you but that won’t fix the reason it’s high in the first place. If you want to lower your blood pressure naturally then get rid of the carbohydrates and seed oils out of your life. Sugar is poison.
I read nothing in the article about cholesterol and rightly so I had what you could call perfect cholesterol readings when I had a hear attack. Remember statins to lower cholesterol are the number one selling drug in the world for the drug companies a gold mine for them .heart disease is the number one killer in the world. So if statins was the answer heart disease wouldn’t be still num one.
@peter kellegher: Hey Peter I sincerely hope that you are in good health again x you make a seriously good point in your post. My late partner had 3 cardiac arrests- the last one killed him. He was 45- 10 years older than me but we both had a terrible lifestyle… Alcoholism which is pretty much a sugar addiction too. My last bloods disclosed that my cholesterol was over 9.2. Bit of a shocker as I’m a size 8-10 but I realize that there are so many contributing factors. I should be dead TBH. However, I do believe that a lot of it is down to genetics. In my family for example, the predominant cause of death is brain haemorrhage… in his it was heart related. His Dad died in Lourdes of all places so he knew he was vulnerable to cardiac issues. Keep up the good health in 2025 x
There is a direct negative correlation between the effectiveness of the HSE and the amount of money given to NGOs.
@Oh Mammy: Do you have evidence of this, or is it just something that popped into your head?
@Oh Mammy: the Irish Heart Foundation are making things worse?
@mcleixlip: the HSE should get 100pct funding before the pet projects.
@Brendan O’Brien: you do not have to be a genius to know money not going into the HSE but into pet projects is not helping the HSE
6000 doesnt sounds like a lot of people. I understand the low percentages actually taking the advice to see a go. It’s too expensive to go if you can actually get sn appointment. I’ve had many reasons to go but can’t due to the cost. Just grin an bear it and carry on hoping I won’t just drop dead O_o. It’d good to hear some people made changes to their diets and physical activity. It’s so easily done and it’s a power within our own hands.
@S banter: *GP …..no see a go
“Referred to” and “directed to” are two different things. Does the IHF mobile unit actually make referrals to GPs (as per the headline) or just tell people to see their GP (as per the article)?
Heart of my heart bring back the memories
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