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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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‘Do no harm’ is a great philosophy of life. Sadly, it seems that the leaderships of some of the world’s most powerful countries have adopted ‘Do harm’ as their motto instead.
Potentially very serious act.
@John Sleator: There’s been a few recently.
Oct 2023 NewNew Polar Bear – 2 data cables and a gas pipeline
Nov 2024 Yi Peng 3 – 2 data communication cables
Dec 2025 Xin Xin Tiang – Estlink electric line.
@honey badger: you should move to Mercia
@Happy As Larry: Is the weather good in Spain? I might.
@Happy As Larry: why would anyone move to the south of England? What’s your point?
ClA at it again!
@Alan Kennedy: so the CIA control the Chinese now?
@Tomas Barrett: When Finnish authorities asked the crew of the Eagle S to raise their anchor, which they dragged along the sea bed, only the chain was raised, the anchor was detached i.e. they broke their anchor on one of the 5 cables they severed, 4 Internet lines, as well as the undersea DC Power Cable connecting Finland and Estonia.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/15/ukrainian-team-blew-up-nord-stream-pipeline-claims-report
Oh, sorry for bringing reality into Putin bashing, I guess I’m a Putin supporter now for highlighting the truth.
@Brian D’Arcy: You highlighted one possible explanation as put forward by the biased Guardian.
That doesn’t make it everyone’s truth, even if it is yours.
@Brian D’Arcy: good. Blow up more Russian and German collaborations. Some history there with that shower. Still at it.
@Brian D’Arcy: Quoting the left-wing Guardian, are you having a laugh? They have no credibility whatsoever when it comes to reporting factual information. In any case, Ukraine had every right to blow up the Nord Stream Pipeline if they wanted to. Russia has repeatedly targeted key Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a deliberate manner in the hope of freezing the people into surrender. It’s pretty clear that such an action was fair game.
@Brian D’Arcy: Cui bono?
Who had most to gain?
That is clearly Russia.
Ukraine had little to gain, and much to lose.
The Guardian – although probably one of the very best media outlets – is not infallible
@Thomas Sheridan: The Guardian is a dreadful “newspaper” , the worst of the Wokies!
@Brian D’Arcy: very strange we never hear about the children killed by Putin’s Russia. No doubt, it’s because Israel wasn’t involved. After all,
A hundred thousand plus children killed in Syria and Yemen and not a sound from the fearless leaders in the Dail or the MSM. Must be something to do with antisemitism.
Nordsee was done by the Ukranians; potentially involved here again with the US backers
@Lewis Armstrong: Nordstream
@Lewis Armstrong: Travellers robbing the copper. We all know it. Piebald drone attack with slashhooks.
@Veronica Waastrumpet: Hi Jim
@Lewis Armstrong: Stop blowing your Trumpet Lewis or is it Lewy?
Forgot to pay there electricity bill
@John Kenny: “their”
It’s just typical that the comments section is closed on the near death attack where the WHO leaders were about to board their plane. When will the world leaders come out and condemn these attacks by the IAF ? Probably never because they are all afraid to say anything against Israel… It’s pure shocking.
@Blue Moon: Afraid to say anything about Israel.
Maybe you haven’t heard yet that Ireland is one of the most antisemitic countries in this earth, a richly deserved title,.
Don’t Panic! BAM are on it already! Be back in time for the Eurovision after they fix Holyhead.
Time to close the Baltic Sea to certain flagged ships, or at least escort these ships that appear to be dragging anchor and impacting vital infrastructure.
@honey badger: ‘appear to be dragging anchor’.
Have you ever even been on a ship? lol.
You’re out of your depth if you’ll excuse the pun. lol.
@Fergus O’Donnell: I dont think i am. The Yi Peng 3, a 225-meter Chinese cargo ship, allegedly dragged its anchor for over 100 miles in the Baltic Sea, severing two vital fiber-optic cables. These cables handle trillions in financial transactions and internet traffic.
@honey badger: Putin is on the way out anyway. the oligarchs are getting tired of his war mongering with little to no success.
@honey badger: The Chinese ship Xin Xin Tiang just happened to be over Estlink2 power cable when it went ‘offline’. It is a sister vessel of NewNew Polar which destroyed the undersea gas pipeline Balticconnector in 2023.
@Thesaltyurchin: Fingers crossed.
@Fergus O’Donnell: honey badger is right, and I spent several years at sea as able seaman on a variety of vessels. Personally I’d just impound these ships and sell them to pay for the damages. You would be surprised how quickly these acts of sabotage would come to a stop.
@gregory pym: any ships the irish government impounds, ends up costing the irish taxpayers millions in mooring fees
@Thesaltyurchin: I’m fairly sure you and loads of posters have said that in the last years,i would love to see him gone, but why post something that you have zero proof of,you and honey are just as bad the Trump crowd/right wing,genuinely think ye are all the same group.
@honey badger: was it “Britain’s Bill Gates” again?
@Fergus O’Donnell: “appear to be dragging anchor’.
Have you ever even been on a ship? lol.
You’re out of your depth if you’ll excuse the pun. lol.”
After the Eagle S was bordered by the Finnish coast guard, the crew were ordered to raise the anchor they were dragging.
Only the chain was raised, the anchor was detached, the anchor is stuck to one of the 4 cables they severed.
Also, Marine Traffic shows them crossing the electricity cable at 10:36 GMT, exactly the same time as the cable was severed.
It’s obviously they’re responsible, they just have to find the anchor, likely stuck to the electricity cable, the strongest cable.
So that’s why me power went yesterday just as the turkey was going in the oven
It’s looking increasingly likely that Eastern Europe is going to be dragged into a war that they don’t want to enter.
Hey RUSSIA, Grow up and act like a civilised nation. The world deserves peace instead of bloodshed.
Sneaky Russians
Dirty putin
@Paddy Ryan: I bet Putin is now rethinking everything now he knows what you think of him.
@Ger Whelan: Yes comrade. To the Gulag with me.
Chinese / Russian ships. I think their movement through certain stretches of water will have to be closed off. They are always up to no good.
This the latest cable breach incident in those seas. Clearly a pointer to disruption of NATO aligned states by shipping with non aligned flags.
Ukraine is just the initial pawn moves, so be warned.
The Russians are coming the Russian are coming.
wonder who is responsible
FSB? Or was it the ESB again?
have your say