Croí partners with Mayo barbers to raise awareness of the risks of high blood pressure
A trip to the barbers could have you looking and feeling better thanks to Croí, the heart and stroke charity, and the barbers of Ballina, Co. Mayo.
To coincide with Men’s Health Week from June 13 to 18, Croí is collaborating with barbers and pharmacies in Ballina to raise awareness of the importance of regular blood pressure checks and managing high blood pressure.
Having your blood pressure measured is quick and easy. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a sign that the heart and blood vessels are being overworked, which in turn increases your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Croí encourages men this Men’s Health Week to know their numbers and visit their local pharmacy for a blood pressure check.
During Men’s Health Week, customers to the participating barbers in Ballina will receive information on the importance of blood pressure checks along with a list of pharmacies in the town offering free blood pressure checks.
Participating barbers in Ballina include: Nikki’s Barbers, Amanda’s Barbers, Lewy's Barber Lounge, Kev’s Kutz, Gabby's Turkish Barber, O’Rourkes' Barbers, Hallahan's Barbers and Ricky's Barbers.
Commenting on the initiative, Croí’s head of health programmes, Dr. Lisa Hynes, said: “We want the people of Mayo to become more aware of their cardiovascular health and this campaign during Men’s Health Week really allows us to do that in a very focused environment.
“In Ireland, 38% of men are living with high blood pressure and we want to do all we can to reduce this number. After all, getting your blood pressure checked is quicker than getting your hair cut and it could save your life!”
“This Men’s Health Week, take just a few minutes to visit your local pharmacy and get your blood pressure checked – it’s quicker than getting your hair cut. Own it, check it and sort it,” added former Mayo GAA footballer Liam McHale.
The participating pharmacies in Ballina include: Molloy’s (Bunree Road and Garden Street), Kilroy’s (Emmet Street) and McKane’s (O'Rahilly Street).
For more information, see www.croi.ie and follow Croí on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.