Politicians to get heart checks on Stormont return
Politicians are being offered the chance to have their hearts checked out as they return to Stormont after the summer holidays today.
The Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association will measure the politicians’ blood pressure as part of its campaign to underline the need for better health and bring down the number of stroke sufferers in the province.
Health promotion nurses from the charity will be in the Stormont Assembly canteen grabbing MLAs to test as they head for their first post-holiday meal.
High blood pressure is one of a number of risk factors which can trigger a stroke. Strokes claim around 1,500 lives a year in the North each year and are also the biggest cause of disability.
The tests are being offered as the results of a major audit are published indicating that stroke care in the UK is improving – but that the North is behind the rest in certain key areas.
The National Sentinel Stroke Audit is carried out every two years by the Royal College of Physicians.
NI Chest, Heart and Stroke said it showed:
:: Only three hospitals in the North are providing the latest clot-busting drugs (thrombolysis) – and even then the number of patients who are currently benefiting is tiny.
:: The North is the only region of the UK not to have thombolysis as a standard treatment.
:: People in the North Antrim and Down Districts are the worst off when it comes to stroke treatment, because neither area has a stroke unit.
Charity chief executive Andrew Dougal, said: “There are other shortfalls in stroke treatment here as well, such as a lower level of occupational therapists, but we expect these to be addressed when the regional stroke strategy is implemented in the near future.”
It is also advising people they need to do more for themselves to reduce the toll of death and misery caused by strokes.
Around 40% are avoidable, and the charity said it had produced a credit card-sized list of advice on staying safe and is printing many thousands of them.
“There are many people who will have a stroke who could prevent it with a few simple lifestyle changes,” said Anne Madden the charity director of research.
“Our message is that it’s much easier to prevent one than to recover. For example, you may think it’s a struggle to give up smoking, but try re-training with a disability to regain your livelihood after you’ve lost your job.
“If you think a bit more exercise is too much trouble, try learning to walk again,” she added.
Maureen McCourt, NICHS senior health promotions nurse who will be testing the MLAs said: “We would encourage everyone to have their blood pressure monitored regularly, particularly if you are in highly stressful circumstances such as your job or family situation.
“We are asking politicians to take a few minutes out of their busy schedule to get their blood pressure checked and, if it is high, to take steps to reduce it.”
