With World Heart Day taking place on Friday, September 29, Stand Up to Heart Failure, a campaign supported by Croí, Heartbeat Trust, Irish Heart, and Novartis, aims to raise awareness of the red flag symptoms of heart failure.
Heart failure is a debilitating, life-threatening condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body because the muscle of the heart become too weak or too stiff to work properly.
However, with access to timely diagnosis, appropriate medical management and follow-up services, a patient’s prognosis can be significantly improved.
It is estimated that 90,000 people live with the condition in Ireland. 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% over the next 25 years.
Symptoms of heart failure include fatigue; shortness of breath, especially with activity or lying flat; swollen feet or ankles.
Common risk factors of heart failure to be aware of include high blood pressure, previous heart attack(s), and diabetes.
If you are concerned about heart failure, it is advised that you speak to your doctor for more information.
Know the risk factors and symptoms of heart failure, and join us as we Stand Up to Heart Failure this September.
For more information on heart failure please call Irish Heart’s Freephone Nurse Helpline on 1800 25 25 50, or visit Croi.ie, Heartbeat-trust.ie and IrishHeart.ie
