Men urged to look after their hearts

Written by Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion, Information & Training, Irish Heart Foundation

Over 4,000 men died from cardiovascular disease last year according to the latest data from the CSO.

Not only are more men than women dying from heart disease and stroke they are also dying earlier than their female counterparts. We know that men are almost three times more likely than women to die young (under the age of 65) from heart disease and stroke.

Despite the devastating impact heart disease and stroke can have on men’s lives, a survey carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation revealed that one in four men do not prioritise their heart health.

To help combat this the Irish Heart Foundation runs a ‘Reboot Your Life’ campaign which aims to encourage men to review their lifestyles and make vital changes to improve their heart health. The website has plenty of tips for how men can make small changes for a healthier heart. We’ve also created a booklet full of tips to help workplaces and community groups spread the word.

The campaign is supported by the HSE and Healthy Ireland as well as Rugby Players Ireland.

While one in four men in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke the good news is that 80 per cent of these premature deaths are preventable by adopting healthy lifestyles.

The older you get, the higher your risk – and so we encourage men, particularly men in their 40s and 50s, to take stock and Reboot their lifestyles by identifying what small changes they can make now to benefit their heart health into the future.

Make that change

There are a number of things men can do to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. These include, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, getting their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, eating a healthy diet, being a healthy weight and being physically active.

Quit smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The benefits from quitting happen almost immediately, even 20 minutes after you quit that last cigarette. Your blood pressure and pulse return to normal while the risk of heart attack beings to fall just one day later.

Rethink Your Drink

Alcohol is high in sugar and calories, and drinking more than the recommended amount can be harmful to your heart. A bottle of wine has 550 calories which is about the same as a burger and fries.

Get Active

Being physically active can help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and weight which can in turn help to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is recommended that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity five days a week.

Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked

High blood pressure and cholesterol are major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Its important to get these checked regularly to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for a number of other conditions including kidney damage and dementia.

Eat for your heart

Its best to aim for a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. Limit processed salty meats such as sausages, bacon and ham and take very small amounts of unsaturated reduced fat spreads and oils. Try also to eat less foods and drinks high in fat sugar and salt.

Engaging with Men

It is often assumed that men don’t engage in health programmes. However, the Irish Heart Foundation has a long track record of initiatives to improve men’s heart health delivered in partnership with stakeholders including the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Pavee Point, the HSE and the Men’s Development Network. Through working with men to understand their needs, we design and deliver relevant, innovative approaches that reduce men’s cardiovascular risk.

Farmers Have Hearts

One example of a tailored approach to men’s health is the Farmer Have Hearts programme, a health check programme for farmers developed and led by the Irish Heart Foundation since 2013. It takes a targeted approach, engaging with farmers in marts. The programme aims to identify farmers’ cardiovascular risk, encourage them to make positive lifestyle changes and refer those at high risk to their GP. In recent years, we have built on this work with partners including Teagasc and South East Technological University to design and roll out a successful health behaviour change intervention, which will be scaled up in the future.

For more information, please see www.irishheart.ie