Limerick men and women learned more about heart health at a free information meeting in the city last night as part of a national awareness campaign called ‘Message from the Heart’.

The campaign has been developed by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland to increase public awareness and understanding about heart disease—Ireland’s leading cause of death according to the Irish Heart Foundation.

TAKING HEART: Lisa McKnight and Merinella Rafferty at the recent fund-raising lunch held for the Heart Children of Ireland at the Clarion Hotel. Picture: Keith Wiseman

Dr Brian Maurer, Medical Director of the Irish Heart Foundation said that 36% of all deaths in Ireland are caused by cardiovascular disease.

“It is crucial that people know more about the condition. We would encourage people to learn more about heart health and the risk factors for heart disease so that they can take steps to reduce their risk.”

Television presenters Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan are also lending their support  to  the campaign.

“We all know that we should maintain a healthy diet and take regular exercise but our hectic lifestyles don’t always allow for this,” said Ms Kennedy.

“Even simple things like a 15-minute walk every day, or increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables can help improve our heart health. The website http://www.heart.ie/ has lots of helpful tips and information on ways to improve your heart health which I find very useful.”

Modifiable risk factors affecting heart disease include high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and lack of exercise; these lifestyle factors can all be changed to help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.