Farmers in Waterford are being offered free heart health checks when the Irish Heart Foundation’s Mobile Health Unit visits Dungarvan next week.

The unit will be based at Dungarvan Mart from 10am until 5pm on Monday, October 5th as part of the charity’s Farmers Have Hearts programme.

The free 30-minute check includes cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, pulse, weight and height assessments.

The initiative is aimed at promoting early detection of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors among farmers and people working in the agricultural sector.

Irish Heart Foundation nurses will also provide lifestyle advice, with farmers encouraged to take a follow-up phone call from the charity’s nurse support line to discuss their results.

The Farmers Have Hearts programme is supported through the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing funding and is designed to help farmers reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.