Patient advice | Vascular Surgery Clinic KCS

Recommendations for vascular health

Priority	Category	Advice	Description / note
1	Smoking & alcohol	Smoking cessation	Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of arterial disease.
2	Risk factor control	Regular control of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar	Regular check‑ups help prevent hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis.
3	Diet	Healthy, balanced nutrition	More fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats; less salt and saturated fat.
4	Physical activity	Regular exercise	At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, plus strength exercises as needed.
5	Body weight	Maintaining a healthy weight	Excess weight strains the blood vessels and increases vascular risk.
6	Mental health	Stress management and sufficient sleep	Chronic stress and poor sleep worsen blood pressure and circulation.
7	Preventive check‑ups	Regular medical exams and screening	Early detection of arterial and venous problems improves outcomes.
8	Kidneys	Monitoring kidney function	Impaired kidneys increase vascular risk – check filtration and albuminuria.
9	Veins & circulation	Proper venous care	Avoid prolonged standing/sitting, elevate legs, use compression stockings when advised.
10	Symptoms & specialist care	Fast reaction to symptoms	Pain in the legs when walking, swelling, skin color changes or wounds require assessment by a vascular specialist.