How often do you think about your blood vessels? Perhaps not enough – they keep the blood flowing around our bodies, supplying our tissues with oxygen and nutrients, and keeping our organs, including the heart, healthy.
In other words, they keep us alive, and therefore we need to look after them – that’s the message from a new awareness campaign from the European Society for Vascular Surgery, in collaboration with Belfast Trust and Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke, as it holds its 37th annual meeting in Belfast next month.
If you head down to ICC Belfast (beside the Waterfront Hall) on Tuesday, September 26, you’ll find a tent where you can have your blood pressure checked, find information on healthy eating, exercise, lifestyle, emotional well-being and resilience, get help to quit smoking, and even take part in a session of armchair aerobics – proof that no matter what your level of ability, you can incorporate some form of exercise to your day-to-day life.
And if you are feeling energetic, lace up your trainers for a 5k walk or run that evening, Tuesday, September 26 – register online here, or at the information tent at ICC Belfast on the day.
Cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attacks, strokes and aortic aneurysms – is the most common cause of death worldwide, especially in western countries.
Arterial disease in the legs and feet is also common, affecting over 240 million people worldwide – in severe cases, this can lead to amputation.
Risk factors for all vascular issues include age (over 70s are most at risk), smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high salt intake, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, diabetes and genetic inheritance.
However, there are lots of things that we can do to reduce the risk of arterial disease – a big one is daily exercise, as well as stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and eating well. It’s also important to be in tune with your body, recognising any changes and speaking to your doctor if something doesn’t feel right.
Claire Black, programme manager for the Northern Ireland abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme (AAA), says: “It is important for everybody within the population to be aware of their vascular health, to have all the regular check-ups and maintain a healthy lifestyle, to reduce the risk of developing any vascular issues.”
Get involved by registering for the 5k walk/run here, and head down to the information tent at ICC Belfast on Tuesday, September 26.
