Les leads new health campaign to beat stroke

A SOUTHSIDE man is leading a new health campaign that urges people to check their pulse twice a day in a bid to cut down on the risk of stroke.

One in four people over the age of 50 are at risk of developing atrial fibrillation and those with the condition who are not treated are five times more likely to have a stroke.

Now, the Irish Heart Foundation is urging the public to check their pulse twice a day as part of their ‘Prevent a Stroke: Feel the Pulse’ campaign.

Les Carroll (63), from Templeogue, is a coordinator for the Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Survivors Support Groups in Tallaght and Crumlin.

He describes how he was first diagnosed.

“It started about 30 years ago when I would wake up in the morning and occasionally faint, waking up on the bathroom floor not knowing what happened.

“I didn’t think much of it as it only happened about once a year. Then about eight or 10 years ago it happened a couple of times in one month. That’s when my family marched me to the doctor’s office.”

Les was diagnosed with AF after an irregular heartbeat was detected. The fainting turned out to be related to blood pressure.

However, Les didn’t regard it as that big of a deal, as he knew it was something that could be managed and looked after.

“I haven’t had to change my lifestyle, I still exercise and play golf. I don’t have to make any dietary changes,” he explained.

“If someone told me they had been diagnosed with AF I would want to reassure them that it hasn’t affected my life. I still do all the things I love to do, it doesn’t affect me day to day.”

The ‘Prevent a Stroke: Feel the Pulse’ message is a simple yet important one – all you have to do to feel the pulse is remember 2x2x2 – using two fingers on your wrist, check your pulse twice a day for two weeks and take note of the results.

If your pulse feels irregular, very fast or you have difficulty feeling your pulse contact your doctor or call the Irish Heart Foundation’s Heart and Stroke Helpline on 1800252550.