Health check demand increases

A PROGRAMME that provides health checks on men at the National Ploughing Championships is set to be expanded due to increased demand.

Men who are shy about visiting their doctors tend to shed their inhibitions at the championships and avail of the programme, according to organisers Pfizer Healthcare Ireland.

They said an unprecedented demand led to the expansion of its screening programme at next week’s championships in Mogeely, Co Cork.

The free screening is part of Pfizer’s Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Programme (CRRP) and will be conducted in conjunction with the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Irish Heart Foundation and theDiabetes Federation of Ireland.

A number of health checks including cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight index, blood glucose level and smoking cessation consultations will be taken.

Ryan Quigley, Pfizer Health Care Ireland, said heart disease remains the leading killer in Ireland.

But he warned many people are still unaware of their vital measurements such as blood pressure or cholesterol.