Veterans 'Pose Higher Risk Of Life-Threatening Disease'

A new study shows people who served in the Armed Forces are more likely to suffer from a condition which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and amputations.

Researchers from Glasgow University say there appears to be a connection with clogged arteries in the legs and military service - putting those who have served more at risk than those who haven't.

The condition is known as peripheral arterial disease, which causes pain in the legs while walking because of a lack of blood circulation and can lead to progressive disability, amputation and increased risk of death from a heart attack or stroke.

Smoking is the most preventable cause of the disease in veterans.  

as well as this, in the long term, the condition is more likely to cause limb amputations in veterans than a war injury, according to research in the United States.

Lead researcher at the University of Glasgow, Dr Beverly Bergman said:

“This is an important study which shows that veterans may be at increased risk of amputation later in life as a result of this common but poorly-recognised smoking-related disease."

Within the study, researchers looked at 57,000 veterans in Scotland who were born between 1945 and 1985. 

Each of them had a wide range of experience and lengths of service within the Armed Forces, over a 50 year period. 

Researchers found that veterans had a 45~% increased risk of peripheral arterial disease compared to people who had never served. 

However, this rose to 80% if they were born in the 1950s and left service prematurely. 

The study also found that people with over 12 years' service were at a no greater risk than the general population. 

Dr Bergman added:

"It is never too late to stop smoking, control weight and take exercise, all of which can help to reduce the risk.”