A natural approach to heart health being spearheaded by a local GP/medical herbalist and her team aims to help people avoid unnecessary medication.
Other objectives of the Healthy Heart programme, devised by Sea Road based doctor Dílis Clare, is to enhance people’s heart health and give a boost to their energy levels and vitality.
Heart disease is Ireland’s biggest killer. One third of all deaths in Ireland are caused by it as well as one fifth of premature deaths ie, under 65 years.
Speaking about the initiative she said it was in response to patients and customers of her natural health clinic who were seeking an “alternative and more holistic” approach to their cardiovascular health.
“The Healthy Heart programme is proactive, preventative and progressive,” stated Dr Clare who is based at the Integrated Health Clinic at Health and Herbs, Sea Road. “With our educated population people are no longer content to just take medication for blood pressure or cholesterol. They want to change their lifestyles to have a positive impact and to prevent problems arising further down the line. We’ve had great feedback to date having piloted the programme over the last six months and we are delighted with the results.”
The programme not only assesses people’s lifestyles and current medical conditions but provides a personal eating plan as well as a suitable physical exercise routine. Tests, using cutting edge technology, include B Pro Testing, blood tests for cholesterol, blood count, Vitamin D, thyroid, blood sugar levels, etc together with exercise assessments of various muscle groups and flexibility which are specific for cardiovascular fitness.
The Healthy Heart programme involves a scheduled appointment with four health professionals - Dr Dílis Clare, GP and medical herbalist, Áine Delaney, SRN and acupuncturist, James Tonery, exercise physiologist and Liz Nolan, a nutritional therapist, all based at the Sea Road clinic.
Guided by the reports from the three assessments Dr Clare will discuss the results and help people to prioritise lifestyle changes which will alter their heart risk profile.
Dr Clare believes in integrating necessary pharmaceutical medication with natural medicines and holistic therapies. Clients’ prescription medication will be reviewed alongside any recommended lifestyle changes.
People who are concerned about breathlessness, stress, blood pressure or have a family history of heart disease or stroke can contact the Healthy Heart team to make an appointment or to receive further information. Telephone (087 ) 7965070 or (091 ) 583260 or log onto www.healthandherbs.ie
