DD HEALTH: More than 2,000 farmers to date have had Heart Health Checks in marts throughout the country with nearly 75% advised to see their GP.
Raphoe Mart was the location for Farmers Have Hearts programme in Donegal.
Many of the farmers hadn’t visited their GP in years, said the Irish Heart Foundation who carried out the health checks which were supported by the HSE.
The response by the farmers to the health checks has been very positive with full attendance for the checks each day at the mart, according to the charity.
Following the health checks, nearly 75% of the farmers were advised to see their GP.
Farmers are affected disproportionately by chronic diseases, including heart disease and stroke, despite a common perception that they live healthy, active lives.
Health checks conducted by the HSE showed that farmers, in general, smoke and drink more than the national average and are more likely to have type 2 diabetes and to be overweight/obese.
Farmers Have Hearts, led by the Irish Heart Foundation and supported by the HSE, provides one-to-one health checks to farmers in marts across the country.
The health checks, which are undertaken by Irish Heart Foundation nurses and provided free of charge to the farmers, measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, waist circumference and carbon monoxide (for farmers who smoke).
The nurses also provide information around smoking cessation, alcohol and stress and the one-to-one lifestyle advice provided by the nurse is a vital part of the health check and gives the farmers an opportunity to discuss any concerns they have around their health.
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