‘Are Your Legs Killing You?’ – Vascular Research Team introduces new public health campaign

Vascular researchers at the University of Leicester will be rolling out a new campaign next month (August) to shine a spotlight on the long-term impact of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

PAD is a long-term condition where the arteries in the lower limbs become narrowed or blocked due to a build-up of a substance called plaque. 

One in five people over the age of sixty in the UK are estimated to have PAD but, although the condition is common, many members of the public have either never heard of it or know very little about it.  PAD can lead to significant long-term health issues, including chronic pain in the legs and feet, non-healing wounds, lower limb amputation, and reduced lifespan.

The #PADawareness event stand will be held by members of the research team at the Leicester Caribbean Carnival on Saturday 2 August. People who have been diagnosed with PAD have also volunteered to join the team to help at the event.

A second #PADawareness stand will be held at the Shepshed Lions Charity Carnival on bank holiday Monday, 25 August. 

The #PADawareness stand will offer information about early signs and symptoms of PAD, and how, where, and when to seek help and advice. A toe-pressure machine will be displayed, which is a common tool used by vascular health professionals to diagnose reduced blood flow in the leg and foot. 

The team will be sharing the results of the LIMb Study, which investigated the impact of a local rapid access limb salvage clinic on amputation rates.  Information will also be made available to members of the public as to how they can get involved in the design, development, and management of vascular research studies.

The team hopes that the ‘Are Your Legs Killing You?’ slogan which emblazons the event flags and volunteer T-shirts will be a powerful conversation starter.

“Patients with PAD wanted us to send a strong message to the public,” says Imelda Black, University of Leicester vascular Patient and Public Involvement Coordinator. 

“Many individuals are diagnosed with PAD every day in the UK, but the regular person going about their business has never even heard of the condition before. Patients often tell us that they didn’t know that their leg or foot pain could have anything to do with a narrowing or blockage in their leg artery. By helping people to identify the symptoms of PAD early, we may be able to prevent future leg amputations and even save lives.”

The team can be contacted via Imelda Black at PPIVasc@leicester.ac.uk or John Houghton at jsmh2@leicester.ac.uk for further information.