Taking a serious issue to heart in the Skellig
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THE West Kerry Primary Care Team hosted a Heart Health Awareness Evening last Wednesday in the Dingle Skellig Hotel.
This event was primarily aimed at healthy members of the community, in particular younger men and women, to promote health and the prevention of cardiac disease.
The main guest speaker on heart health was Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Yvonne Smith of the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee, and her delivery included some very sobering information.
"Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in developing heart disease. Someone who smokes 40 cigarettes a day increases the risk of a heart attack by 900 times. Fifty per cent of people who suffer hearts attacks don't make it to hospital. Factors which contribute to heart disease, as well as smoking, include high blood pressure, stress, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, a family history of heart disease at a young age and physical inactivity," she told the audience.
"A stroke on its own won't cause heart disease but it will in conjunction with other risk factors. High blood pressure is a silent killer. In relation to cholesterol, 70 per cent comes from the liver and the other 30 per cent comes from what we eat. The most important thing in relation to all of these risks is to be aware of the dangers and to get a checkup. Most people who die of heart disease are over the age of 35 and people over 35 should be aware of the risk factors," she said.
Before her talk the audience were treated to a very entertaining sketch, performed by Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne transition year students, dealing with problems associated with alcoholism, smoking, drink driving and parental example.
The short drama was devised by An tAthair Ó hIcí and while it was entertaining in its delivery it also carried a sobering message for all families.
It might be a beneficial exercise to repeat the performance in local schools.
