Irish Heart Foundation

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) is the national charity fighting stroke and heart disease; it was founded in 1966 and is based in Dublin. It is funded by up to 90 per cent by public and corporate donations. It runs support groups for patients who have had heart problems or strokes and campaigns on public health issues which affect the risk of heart disease and stroke. In 1992, the IHF and the Irish Cancer Society co-founded ASH Ireland to promote smoking cessation.

It has a Mobile Health Unit which offers free blood pressure checks, heart health information and lifestyle advice. It runs campaigns to increase awareness of atrial fibrillation and a “Chairs Can Kill” campaign to raise awareness of the risks to heart health of sitting for long periods of time. It urges the government to adopt policies which will improve health, such as banning advertising of junk food to children and attacks unhealthy food adverts in its ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ campaign.