Vascular Disease Prevention

What is Vascular Disease?

Vascular disease includes coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. It currently affects the lives of over 4 million people in England.

It causes 36% of deaths (170,000 a year in England) and is responsible for a fifth of all hospital admissions.

It is the largest single cause of long-term ill health and disability, impairing the quality of life for many people.

What you can do to help yourself avoid vascular disease

You can help yourself - small changes in your life style can make a big difference.

Stop smoking

This is the most important thing you can do.  It is tough – but Leeds Smoking Services and GP are there to help you.

Want to stop smoking? Free phone

0800 169 4219

Drink sensibly

• Too much alcohol increases blood pressure.  Binge drinking (more than 6 units in 6 hours) really puts blood pressure up.
• Stay within the safe limits:
  • Women: no more than 2 or 3 units per day.
  • Men: no more than 3 or 4 units per day
• Try some alcohol free days each week.

What is a unit? A small glass of wine, a single pub measure of spirits or half a pint of weak beer or lager.

Eat sensibly

• Eat low fat proteins like fish, poultry, lean meat and pulses.  Try to eat 2 portions of fish each week including one oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.
• Eat more fibre like wholegrain cereals, wholegrain rice, wholemeal bread and pasta.
• Eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.  A portion is about 80 grams or 3 ounces, or a glass of fruit juice.  Fruit juice only counts as 1 portion.
• Limit the amount of fat you eat and consider using small amounts of vegetable, seed and nut oils.  Remember large amounts of fat are often found in processed food, such as cakes, biscuits and pies.

Reduce your salt.  Try not to add salt to food and remember some processed foods are full of salt.  Check the food label.