Third Age Mayo
Croí teams up with pharmacies across Mayo to offer free blood pressure checks for the month of March
Own it, Check it and Sort it as part of Croí's Third Age Mayo Programme
The Croí Third Age Mayo programme, which aims to promote healthy cardiovascular ageing, is delighted to partner with local pharmacies across Mayo for the month of March to offer free blood pressure checks to anyone who has not had their blood pressure checked in the past year, with a particular focus on those over 55 years of age. High blood pressure typically has no symptoms – the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly (at least once a year).
From March 1st – 31st, visit one of the participating pharmacies for your free blood pressure check and ‘Own it, Check it, Sort it!’.
May Measurement Month is a global blood pressure screening awareness campaign, launched in 2017 by the International Society of Hypertension.
Croí is the only Irish organisation currently taking part in this campaign. Learn more.
Pharmacy Locations
Ballina
Molloy’s
Charlestown
Colleran’s Life Pharmacy
Ballinrobe
Ryder’s
Hynes Totalhealth
Claremorris
Aran Health Pharmacy
Lloyds
Ballyhaunis
Curley’s Totalhealth
Kilkelly
Life Pharmacy
Castlebar
Treacy’s
MacAuliffe’s
O’Donnell’s
Westport
O’Donnell’s
Treacy’s
O’Connells
Croí Surveys Provide Significant Insights on Cardiovascular Disease in over 55’s
Croí worked with Ipsos to design and conduct a survey of 400 people aged over 45 in Mayo. The survey was designed to investigate themes related to awareness and understanding of CVD prevention according to adults in Mayo.
Putting the spotlight on your heart health, for over 55’s
Third Age Mayo
The Third Age
As we get older, age-related heart disease and stroke become more prevalent. What can you do today, now, to improve your health? Keep making or start making better choices.
- Take an active role in managing your health
- It’s never too early, but also never too late
- Look for ways you can improve your physical, mental and social health so you can enjoy an independent and good quality of life
- Live a healthy lifestyle.
- See Croí’s health eating tips
- Exercise for health
- A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing heart disease and stroke. There are 2 types of risk factors – those you can do nothing about (age, gender, family history) and those you can change (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, lack of regular exercise, overweight/obesity)
- Focus on the risk factors you can change, because there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk and prevent disease. More than 80% of heart disease and stroke can be prevented with lifestyle changes
- Know your numbers – this will help you understand how healthy you are.
- check your blood pressure
- cholesterol
- sugar level
- weight/BMI/ waist circumference
- If you are over 65 years or have a family history of heart valve disease, or have ever been told you have a heart murmur have your health care provider listen to your heart
- Learn how to check your pulse to make sure it is regular
- Without testing for these conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart valve disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular pulse) and diabetes you probably won’t know you have them
- Symptoms are often silent but with early detection and management, outcomes can be very good
- It’s not enough to just know your numbers and risk factors, you need to take control and do what needs to be done for a long and healthy life
- Schedule a yearly check up to keep on top of your health
- Keep a record of your numbers
- Set yourself some healthy goals you can work towards and build on these
- If you lose momentum, immediately get back on track to re-establishing a healthy lifestyle
- Keep track of your achievements and reward yourself by doing something you enjoy
- It is very important to always take your medications as prescribed by your doctor
- Get support from family and friends
- Stay active and connected to your community
- Nearly 50% have high cholesterol
- Almost 40% have high blood pressure
- Over 30% are inactive
- Almost 80% are overweight / obese
Building on these findings, Croí Third Age calls on individuals, communities and all sectors of society to put the spotlight on the over 55’s by promoting the key messages of the programme:
Own it. Check it. Sort it.
Our vision is to develop a culture in County Mayo where promoting cardiovascular health and well-being is a priority for the 55+ population.
While County Mayo has been selected to pilot the programme, its impact will play a key role in influencing Ireland’s National Healthy Ageing Strategy.