Sligo Regional Hospital and Irish Heart Foundation to host heart failure talks

Swollen ankles, breathlessness and extreme tiredness are key symptoms of heart failure, a chronic condition affecting 90,000 people living in Ireland and responsible for 20,000 hospital admissions each year. 

On 20th November, Sligo Regional Hospital, Heart Failure Department in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation, the national charity fighting heart disease and stroke, will host ‘heart to heart’ public talks on heart failure in the Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo. The event is free to attend.

Funded by Novartis, this dedicated heart failure public information evening is for patients and families and will feature talks by leading medical experts from Sligo Regional Hospital addressing the causes of the condition, its diagnosis, treatment and management.  The information evening is part of the Sligo Regional Hospital's Heart Failure Service's and IHF’s drive to increase awareness and understanding of the condition.

Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director Dr Angie Brown says “ awareness is key” for the Irish public as the country faces a predicted 63% rise in heart failure incidence by 2019. Heartfailure is used to describe deterioration in the heart’s efficiency when the heart fails to pump or fill as normal and can no longer provide as much blood as the body needs to carry out its usual functions. 

“There is no doubt that low awareness of heart failure (HF) is responsible for high levels of avoidable death and suffering in communities throughout the length and breadth of the country,” said Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr. Angie Brown. “Because so few people understand how common and life threatening the condition is, they are not seeking the prompt medical assistance that can save their lives. Studies have shown that 60% of heartfailure sufferers will die within five years of experiencing the condition, which is higher than many of the most common forms of cancer. The good news is, with suitable treatment patients can live an active and comfortable life, preventing the heart function getting worse and helping them live longer.”

Consultant Physician/ Cardiologist from Sligo General Hospital, Dr Donal Murray added: “Heart failure is sometimes a confusing and frightening term for people, they think theirheart is going to stop or that they’ve had a heart attack.  However most people with this condition can live active and comfortable lives if it is diagnosed early and their symptoms well managed. Also, if people with heart failure recognise changes in their symptoms and report them promptly to their doctor or heart failure clinic, we have a better chance of treating the condition and keeping people out of hospital.”

The public is invited to attend the FREE ‘heart to heart’ talk on Heart Failure on 20th November from 6.30pm – 9.00pm at The Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo All are welcome to attend. 

Free copies of ‘Step by Step through Heart Failure’ are available from the Irish Heart Foundation, call 01 6885001 or see www.irishheart.ie 

If you are worried about heart failure, talk to an Irish Heart Foundation nurse in confidence on the National Heart & Stroke Helpline 1890 432 787, Mon to Fri, 10am to 5pm.