6 important things to know about vascular health

What exactly is it and how can you improve yours?

Netdoctor Vascular Health What You Need To Know

Type ‘vascular health’ into Google and you'll get over 111 million results. But what is vascular health and how can you protect it?

A healthy vascular system can delay or prevent the onset of heart disease, dementia and even cancer, so taking steps to protect this critical bodily system is important.

Dr Rohin Francis, a cardiologist from the UK, shares some expert advice.

1. Firstly, what is the vascular system?

'The vascular system, often used interchangeably with 'cardiovascular system' or 'circulatory system', refers to your heart and all your blood vessels. This means all 100,000 miles of arteries, veins and capillaries that form a closed circuit that the heart uses to pump blood around the body,' explains Dr Francis.

'Blood travels to the lungs where it picks up oxygen and offloads carbon dioxide, then through the heart and around the body. Blood also delivers nutrients to the body, which it collects from the digestive system,' he adds.

2. Why should I care about my vascular health?

'Cardiovascular disease - chiefly coronary artery disease (including heart attacks) and stroke - are the leading causes of death worldwide. In the developed world, cardiovascular disease is responsible for about one in three deaths,' explains Dr Francis.

'We have made huge progress - far fewer people die in comparison to just twenty years ago - but it also means there are more people than ever living with the effects of a damaged heart or brain.

'A heart attack can result in an impairment of the heart's function, resulting in a condition called heart failure, which can limit the amount of exertion a person is able to tolerate.'

'A stroke can cause disability, and vascular disease can affect the limbs, occasionally leading to amputation. It's crucial to take an interest in your vascular health as there are many things you can do to improve it,' Dr Francis continues.


3. What can I do to improve my vascular health?

'There are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Sadly none of us have any control over our age nor whether heart disease runs in our family. However, the modifiable risk factors are of vital importance,' Dr Francis warns.

'If there are two pieces of advice I could give to everyone for the biggest impact, they would be to exercise regularly and don't smoke. Neither of these things are novel concepts but they always stand repeating.

'Exercising regularly doesn't mean you need to run a marathon but start by aiming for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week (or 30 minutes a day for five days). Just adding more movement to your daily routine - like getting off a couple of stops early and walking the rest of the way or avoiding the lifts - can reap rewards.'

'Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health, but the good news is that from the moment you have your last cigarette, your risk profile starts to improve every day and if accompanied by other lifestyle changes, it can match that of someone who never smoked.'

'Stress is also a major risk factor - probably more significant than we previously thought. Other modifiable risk factors are sleep, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol and weight - so try to control them. Your doctor can help with this.'

4. Can changing my diet help prevent against vascular disease?

'Absolutely - what you consume is intrinsically linked to your health. The main messages are simple - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid refined carbohydrates (sugar), excess salt and processed food,' says Dr Francis.

'At present both the American Heart Association and British Heart Foundation recommend no more than 5 per cent of our daily energy intake comes from saturated fat (like meat or butter). These shouldn't be confused with 'good fats' as can be found in nuts, oily fish (such as salmon), extra virgin olive oil or avocados, where intake is not so restricted.'


5. Is vascular disease hereditary?

'Unfortunately vascular disease does tend to run in families. But this does not mean you cannot change your risk profile if you have a family history of heart disease or stroke,' says Dr Francis.

'Indeed, I have many patients whose parents were affected at a young age but through healthy living they have remained in excellent health well into old age. A small proportion of people have specific conditions, like hereditary raised cholesterol, which can be identified early and treated.'

6. What is a vascular check-up and do I need one?

'Simple things like blood pressure and weight should be checked at least a few times a year, especially as we age. The majority of people don't need a more detailed check-up unless they have symptoms of vascular disease.

These might include chest pain on exertion, breathlessness, palpitations or something called a transient ischaemic attack or 'mini stroke' where a patient will experience a one-sided weakness or speech disturbance temporarily. If any of these develop, a patient would need a detailed check-up.'

'The NHS offers free five-yearly health checks to people over 40. If you are considered to be at high risk (due to having a family history or other risk factors like smoking or high blood pressure) a check-up might be significant.'

If you feel you or a loved one may be at risk, or have been diagnosed with a vascular disease, visit My Vascular Health for more advice

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Heart and Blood