THE IRISH Heart Foundation has launched its month-long heart health campaign, ‘Escape Your Chair’, which aims to raise awareness of prolonged sitting as a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
The campaign aims to empower and encourage the public to move more and sit less throughout September for heart month, by providing tools and guides to get active.
On Saturday, September 28, to help people ‘Escape Your Chair’, and support the work of the Irish Heart Foundation, the charity is calling on locals to walk, jog, or run in the Irish Heart Foundation Heart Hero 5K at parkrun events across Limerick in association with parkrun Ireland.
The Irish Heart Foundation Heart Hero 5k can be completed in Limerick at:
- Newcastle West parkrun, The Demense, Newcastle West, Co.Limerick
- Mungret parkrun, Mungret Park, near Mungret College, Mungret, Co.Limerick
- Limerick parkrun, The Boat House, University of Limerick, Co.Limerick
Tara Curran, Slí na Sláinte Coordinator with the Irish Heart Foundation said: “80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable and as physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, we are encouraging the people of Limerick and nearby to make some small changes to incorporate more physical activity into their day.”
“It is recommended that we get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity at least 5 days of the week, but this does not cancel out the damage caused to our health by sitting for long periods of time. According to the latest Irish Sports Monitor (2017), 13% of Irish adults are sedentary.”
“Small changes can go a long way to improve your heart health so check out ways to move more and sit less at www.EscapeYourChair.ie” she added.
As part of its #EscapeYourChair heart month campaign, the Irish Heart Foundation has created a range of resources to help people sit less and move more.
These include, an online sitting time calculator, a Deskercise video, a Move More Walking Challenge, a Couch to 5k guide, as well as expert tips and advice on how to increase physical activity levels. These are available at www.EscapeYourChair.ie.
