Irish Heart Foundation

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The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) is a charity founded in 1966 based in Dublin. It runs support groups for patients who have had heart problems or strokes and campaigns on public health issues which affect the risk of heart disease and stroke. [1] In 1992, the IHF and the Irish Cancer Society co-founded ASH Ireland to promote smoking cessation. [2]

It has a Mobile Health Unit which offers free blood pressure checks, heart health information and lifestyle advice. It carries out about 10,000 blood pressure checks a year. [3]

It runs campaigns to increase awareness of atrial fibrillation [4] and a "Chairs Can Kill" campaign to raise awareness of the risks to heart health of sitting for long periods of time. [5]

It urges the government to adopt policies which will improve health, such as banning advertising of junk food to children [6] and attacks unhealthy food adverts in its ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ campaign. [7] It also attacked Salt Vape Ireland for handing out free vapes in Dublin pubs and nightclubs in exchange for social media exposure. [8]

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References

  1. "How we are accountable to you". Irish Heart Foundation. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. "About ASH Ireland, Council of the Irish Heart Foundation". 16 March 2013.
  3. "Avail of free blood pressure checks". Connaught Telegraph. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  4. "'I thought I was too young for this': New health campaign aims to prevent 'silent killer' of over 50s". The Journal. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  5. "Research finds out how long Irish people sit down in a typical day". Irish Examiner. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  6. "Seven out of 10 adults 'support blanket ban on junk food advertising'".
  7. "Irish Heart Foundation hits out at targeting of teens by junk food advertising". Derry Now. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. "Free vapes given out in Dublin pubs and nightclubs labelled as 'nasty, cheap marketing'". Independent.ie. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.