Every year in the UK, and globally, September is dedicated to Vascular Disease Awareness Month. In 2025, the campaign runs from 1 to 30 September.

As part of this awareness month, the Circulation Foundation are running a campaign called #TheBodyWalk with the goal of walking, running, cycling or swimming a total of 60,000 miles during September. The goal of 60,000 miles comes from the fact that, if you were to lay out all of the arteries, veins and capillaries in one adult, end to end, they would stretch out to 60,000 miles.

It is vital to raise awareness of vascular disease, so that people can safeguard their vascular health and be proactive in seeking to avoid the significant health issues that can result from vascular disease, if not appropriately managed.

Why It Matters

• There are many different types of vascular disease, including peripheral artery disease (PAD), atherosclerosis, carotid artery disease, chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolisms (PE), aneurysms, varicose veins and artery and lymph vessel disorders.
• In the UK, vascular diseases account for approximately 40% of all deaths, rivalling cancer and heart disease in impact, with many deaths being noted as preventable if the vascular disease was caught or dealt with earlier.
• Many vascular conditions develop gradually and silently; PAD, for example, affects around 9% of the population, leading to symptoms like leg pain during walking, ulceration, and even amputation if untreated, as lack of blood circulation can cause the tissue in the leg to die due to lack of oxygen.

Key risk factors:

• Age, especially those over 50.
• Poor lifestyle choices including; smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, stress, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes.
• Family history of vascular or cardiovascular disease

What Can Be Done: Prevention & Early Detection

• Healthy lifestyle changes:
• Engage in regular physical activity, such as walking, cycling, or swimming to assist with enhancing circulation.
• Maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, with a focus on limiting saturated fats, salt, and sugar
• Quitting smoking. Stopping smoking one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for PAD and other vascular diseases
• Management of weight through diet and exercise, and monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
• Reduce stress through mindfulness, relaxation techniques, or creative outlets

Screening & clinical action:

• You can attend vascular health checks at a clinic or hospital nearby to you. Tests may include blood pressure monitoring, ankle–brachial index assessments, and vein/artery evaluations.

If you feel you may be experiencing a form of vascular disease, seek early medical attention, particularly for symptoms such as leg cramping, swelling, non-healing sores, or visible varicose veins.

Although it is important for patients to be proactive in detecting and managing vascular disease, the NHS faces challenges in diagnosing and managing vascular diseases, which can often lead to inadequate care and treatment, leading to devastating consequences for patients. Our experienced medical negligence team have substantial experience in helping clients who have sustained a significant injury as a result of a delayed diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases. This includes a number of clients who have suffered above and below knee amputations. As well as fighting for compensation for our clients, we also work with those who have been injured and their families in order to support them with their rehabilitation, such as, where admissions are secured, providing access to specialist prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation specialists to assist with making the fullest possible recovery.

If you feel that you or a loved one have experienced a delay in a diagnosis of vascular disease and have suffered a worse prognosis as a result, please contact our team on (01482) 323697 to discuss how we may be able to help.