Mayo Farmers Month – a healthier you for 2021

CROÍ, the heart and stroke charity, along with Healthy Ireland, Pobal and Teagasc, invite the farming community in Mayo to get involved and make heart healthy changes this Mayo Farmers Month.

Looking after your overall health and wellbeing is important for everyone, but especially for farmers as they are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke, says local heart and stroke charity, Croí, ahead of Mayo Farmers Month this January.

Almost half of Irish farmers have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and 86% are overweight or are living with obesity – all major risk factors. Despite knowing all these numbers and statistics, Irish farmers identify themselves as 'healthy'.

Farmers have historically been seen as a physically active group, but daily 'sitting time' for farmers can be as high as eight plus hours.

“We know that the occurrence of heart disease, cardiac events and stroke is significantly higher among Irish farmers compared to other groups of employees,” says Croí physiotherapist, Denise Dunne.

To mark Mayo Farmers Month, Croí invites you to attend a free virtual webinar on Thursday, January 21, at 7 p.m. to learn more about heart health, stress management and overall health and wellbeing with a panel of local nursing and allied health professional experts.

Announcing details of the event, Ms. Dunne said: “This is a great opportunity to learn more about the medical and lifestyle risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the impact these risk factors can have on your overall health and wellbeing and more importantly the steps you can take to reduce your risk.

“People usually think of cardiovascular disease as an older person’s problem but small changes matter and it’s never too late to start.”

Check out the Croí website https://croi.ie/ for lots of free resources and to register for the free webinar. Or call Croí on (091) 544310 to reserve your space.