Major seminar for people in West of Ireland living with heart failure

People living with heart failure are to benefit from a major education and awareness seminar taking place in Sligo this month.

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) event will provide valuable advice from health experts on the signs and symptoms of heart failure and how to manage and live well with the condition.

The free information seminar takes place at the Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Cornageeha, Sligo, on Thursday, June 15, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Speakers include Fiona Mahon, a clinical nurse specialist in heart failure at Sligo University Hospital, who will discuss the importance of monitoring for anaemia in heart failure and the impacts of low iron levels, and Attracta Madden, also a clinical nurse specialist in heart failure at Sligo University Hospital, who will give a talk titled ‘Introduction to heart failure: diagnosis, symptoms, management of the condition’.

Attendees will also hear the personal experience of Pauline O’Shea, who has been diagnosed with heart failure and works with the charity, and receive practical advice on the role of exercise for heart failure patients from Marc O’Connor, senior physiotherapist in the coronary care unit and cardiac rehab at Sligo University Hospital.

The Irish Heart Foundation’s head of community supports, Helen Gaynor, said the core aim of the event is to highlight the wide range of supports available to heart failure patients and their families and carers, and how these supports can improve quality of life.

“We recognise the devastating effect heart failure can have on mood and health outcomes, the huge cost burden and high rate of hospital admission,” she said.

“The Irish Heart Foundation has a range of free supports available to people living with heart failure, including wellbeing support calls, heart failure support packs, online tools to monitor signs and symptoms, self-care and monitoring, and a nurse support line, counselling, and short-term courses in mindfulness and physical education.

“We will be there to provide information and to help heart failure patients improve their quality of life. At this seminar, you will learn about the condition, about the help available, how to advocate for yourself, manage heart failure and how to make sure you get the best care.

“Physical and mental wellbeing and peer-to-peer support are also key parts of the self-care message.”

Heart failure occurs when the heart is prevented from pumping enough blood around the body, because the walls of the heart have become too weak or too stiff to work properly. An estimated 90,000 people live with the condition in Ireland.

Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, especially with activity or when lying flat, swollen feet, ankles or abdomen, and weight gain over a short period of time.

You can help to reduce your risk of heart failure by controlling high blood pressure, eating healthy food, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, drinking moderately and reducing other risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking.

Anyone interested in attending the event can call (01) 6685001 or register online via Eventbrite. A range of heart failure supports and advice is also available on irishheart.ie or from heartservices@irishheart.ie.