Scheme helps turn tide in heart health battle
A pilot scheme to monitor people with heart problems is helping reduce the risk of heart attacks in Ireland, according to the author of a report into the scheme.
More than 10,500 have already been enrolled in the Heartwatch programme, which was established to help people with heart problems and to collect data about heart disease in an effort to improve prevention policies.
Speaking after presenting his report on the scheme to the Government today, Professor John Feely said Heartwatch was already helping to lower the rate of heart attacks in Ireland.
"We actually are one of the highest in Europe for getting heart attacks, but that's all changing," he said. "We're now beginning to see a fall in heart attacks.
"This programme shows that patients going into the Heartwatch programme in primary care will fare much better than other people in Europe," he said.
"They'll get their cholesterol reduced, they'll be put on aspirin, they'll be advised about exercise, about stopping smoking, so they get a very comprehensive programme."
