Croí mobile health hub to visit Mayo ahead of World Stroke Day

Croí, the heart and stroke charity, is bringing its state-of-the-art Croí Mobile Health Hub to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Tuesday, October 20, in advance of World Stroke Day on October 29. Bookings are essential for this event and can be made here.

Supported by the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, the visit will focus on raising awareness of stroke, helping members of the public recognise the signs and symptoms, understand their risk factors and know when to act FAST.

The Croí Health Team will be on hand at the Mobile Health Hub from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide Blood Pressure, Pulse and Cholesterol Checks along with information and advice on stroke prevention and cardiovascular health, including the importance of knowing and managing key risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and atrial fibrillation (AF).

With 1 in 4 people at risk of stroke in their lifetime, Croí is encouraging people across Mayo to learn the signs of stroke and understand the importance of taking immediate action.

A stroke is a medical emergency. The signs can appear suddenly and include facial weakness, arm weakness and problems with speech. Remember FAST – Face, Arm, Speech, Time. If you see any of these signs, it is time to call 112 or 999 for an ambulance.

Time lost is brain lost

Seeking emergency medical care as soon as stroke symptoms are spotted can save lives and can enable treatments that improve the chances of a better recovery.

Heart and brain health are closely linked

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are all important stroke risk factors. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heart rhythm. In AF, blood can pool in the heart, allowing clots to form and travel to the brain. A pulse check may pick up an irregular rhythm that needs further assessment. People with AF are around five times more likely to have a stroke, so recognising and appropriately managing high blood pressure and AF is an important part of stroke prevention.

Commenting on the upcoming Castlebar visit, Mark O’Donnell, chief executive of Croí, said:

“Stroke can happen to anyone, and knowing the signs and acting quickly can make a life-changing difference. Our World Stroke Day information campaign is about making sure people know what to look for and, importantly, what to do when they see the signs of a stroke. Time is brain, and every minute counts.

“We are grateful to the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation for supporting our work to bring cardiovascular and stroke prevention services directly into communities. We look forward to meeting people in Castlebar and helping them understand their own risk, including the important connection between atrial fibrillation and stroke.”

“Stroke is often preventable. Heart health and brain health are fundamentally connected. “Managing your cardiovascular health and controlling your risk factors, particularly high blood pressure, is one of the most meaningful ways we can reduce the risk of both first and recurrent stroke. Effective stroke prevention is about understanding your own risk and taking action today to protect your future health,” said Dr. Ruairi Waters, Consultant in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine at Galway University Hospital and Croí Board Member.

Croí is encouraging people in Castlebar and the surrounding area to take the opportunity to speak with the Health Team, learn more about stroke prevention and share the act FAST message with family, friends and colleagues.

The Croí Mobile Health Hub is a 13.6-metre state-of-the-art mobile health facility and the largest vehicle in Ireland’s mobile health fleet. It contains six private assessment cubicles and two consultation rooms and can also be transformed into an educational and training space.

The Castlebar visit is part of Croí’s Croí In Your Community programme, which brings heart and stroke prevention information, education and health services directly into communities.

For more information about stroke, prevention and the signs to look out for, visit here.