Farmers More Likely To Die From Heart Disease, Study Reveals

Farmers are more likely to die from heart disease and strokes compared to any other occupations, a new study has revealed.

80% of farmers have four or more risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the leading cause of death in Ireland, according to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Findings from the 'Farmers Have Hearts' initiative revealed that the most prevalent risk identified was overweight or obesity at 86%, and 82% had a family history of heart disease and stroke.

Farmers Have Hearts, led by the Irish Heart Foundation and supported by the HSE, provide one-to-one health checks to farmers in marts across the country and was established as farmers in Ireland are seven times more likely to die from heart disease and stroke than other occupations. The health checks, which are undertaken by Irish Heart Foundation nurses and provided free of charge to farmers, measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose body mass index and waist circumference.

Maureen Mulvihill, Head of Health Promotion, Irish Heart Foundation, said: "These extremely high levels of risk factors demonstrate why farmers are at such risk of heart disease and stroke. Not surprisingly most of the farmers were advised to see their GP by our health check nurses. After 12 weeks it was encouraging to see almost a third had followed up with their doctor but we need all farmers, advised to see their GP, to do so."

(CD/JP)