Warning over ‘hidden’ disease

Around a million smokers and ex-smokers in the UK could be living with a serious illness that may lead to a fatal heart attack, a charity has said.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) urged smokers to quit on No Smoking Day on March 9 as it warned of the risks from peripheral arterial disease – a largely unknown killer in the UK.

Peripheral arterial disease occurs when there is a build-up of fatty deposits in the walls of the leg arteries which restricts blood supply to leg muscles.

It causes no symptoms in around half of people but can lead to gangrene and limb amputation, as well as heart attacks.

Peripheral arterial disease mostly affects smokers. New estimates show that more than a million people in the UK – 90% of whom are smokers or ex-smokers – could be living with the disease.

Dr Mike Knapton, the BHF’s associate medical director, said: “Peripheral arterial disease can lead to horrific consequences and the silent nature of the condition means that opportunities to diagnose and treat it are often missed.

“We do know that stopping smoking is the single most effective way of reducing your risk of developing this potentially deadly disease and with No Smoking Day on March 9, now is a great time to prepare to start your quitting journey.”