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Poor Circulation Symptoms
Poor blood circulation is a condition when certain parts of the body do not receive enough blood to carry out a normal gaseous exchange. Poor circulation symptoms occur more frequently in people who are suffering from peripheral arterial disease. This disease also plays a role in the development of foot conditions.
Fortunately, poor circulation symptoms can be managed with simple measures, such as a healthy exercise routine that aims to increase blood flow to the targeted body part.
Other Poor Circulation Symptoms
Coldness of the feet and legs is a common sensation reported by people suffering from poor circulation. This feeling is usually unpleasant, but it can be an indication of a more severe medical condition. Another downside of poor circulation is its adverse effect on sexual health, causing erectile dysfunction (ED). Some other symptoms to look out for are:
- Discoloration of skin
- Recurrence of ulcers
- Toenails grow slowly
- Feet and legs become heavy
- Skin appears to be split
- Restlessness in legs and feet
- Arrested hair growth on the feet and legs
- Swelling of veins
- Pain in pelvis
- Pain in legs
There may be multiple reasons for one or more of these symptoms to occur, but they are not life-threatening. The symptoms of poor circulation are mostly generalized, but some symptoms of poor circulation are more common and dangerous:
1. Limbs become cold
Insufficient blood flow to the limbs causes a drop in temperature as compared to the body. Lack of proper blood flow causes the temperature in those limbs to drop.
2. Tingling sensation in limbs
The most common symptom other than a drop in temperature is the sensation of numbness in the extremities. A tingling sensation is defined as a feeling of needles and pins in a particular part of the body. Tingling sensations occur when blood in sufficient quantities cannot circulate and reach limbs, triggering pins and needles.
3. Swelling of limbs
Improper circulation can cause edema in the limbs. Edema is a condition when fluid from the blood vessels accumulates, and in the case of poor circulation, it accumulates in the limbs.
Edema should not be ignored, as it is also a sign of an ongoing heart attack. Edema can also occur if the blood ends up accumulating in the limbs and the fluid from blood vessels is ejected into the limbs, which then causes swelling.
Risk factors
It is a misconception that poor blood circulation is a problem specific to people of old age. It can occur in a person regardless of age and especially in the presence of the following risk factors:
This autoimmune disease is common and notorious for causing many health complications, such as vascular diseases, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiac diseases, and even stroke.
It is the most common risk factor for poor circulation symptoms. It is characterized by the hardening of the arterial lining, which causes poor blood circulation. A more severe form of atherosclerosis is known as peripheral artery disease.
- Age
Age is a contributing factor to poor circulation in the extremities. As people age, their lifestyle becomes sedentary, and they experience an increase in the thickness of the aorta. Old age also reduces the sensitivity of pressure points.
- Obesity
Chronic obesity has many repercussions for a person’s health. It can cause skeletal problems, joint aches, trouble breathing while asleep, hypertensive disorders, and even circulation problems that can be precursors to a heart attack.
- Smoking
It is a leading cause of untimely deaths in America. Smoking causes a continuous increase in blood pressure. It can damage the walls of blood vessels gradually and cause poor circulation symptoms.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
In some cases, a blood clot is formed in the vein of a body that is deeply embedded. This condition is known as deep-vein thrombosis. A fatal form of deep vein thrombosis occurs when the blood clot is broken apart and causes a fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism.
As mentioned earlier, PAD is a severe form of atherosclerosis. As time passes and atherosclerosis is left untreated, it leads to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. This narrows the diameter of the arteries and prevents them from allowing a normal amount of blood to pass through. This can decrease the blood flow to extremities or stop blood flow altogether. Excessive periods of blood deprivation can cause necrosis and lead to the necessity of amputation of an extremity.
Poor blood circulation can cause discomfort in the limbs, but it is not as simple as it sounds. If the poor circulation symptoms are left untreated, they can lead to fatal conditions. Therefore, it is important to know these symptoms and seek advice from a healthcare provider to avoid any adverse outcomes.
How to Increase Blood Flow
Poor blood circulation can be managed therapeutically by a qualified healthcare provider. Apart from the management plan, some lifestyle improvements will be advised by your healthcare provider to help you restore blood flow to your limbs.
Regular exercise is the most common way to increase blood flow to your limbs. It is also beneficial for maintaining health, especially vascular health. Exercises such as walking, cycling, meditation, and swimming can play a role in reducing the pain and discomfort in the feet and legs.
An activity as simple as putting up your feet can help with a form of poor circulation known as edema in the legs and feet. Putting up the feet helps address the symptoms by reducing the edema and swelling in the legs and feet.
Diabetic garments (also known as compression socks) can greatly improve the flow of blood in the legs and feet and also improve the symptoms of poor blood circulation.
Some products are deemed helpful in improving the poor circulation symptoms that affect our quality of life and even prove it. One such product is the L-arginine cream for poor circulation. L-arginine cream transdermal supplements are gaining a lot of attention for their potential natural health benefits. Neuropathy, arthritis pain, joint pain, restless leg syndrome, erectile dysfunction, infertility, and poor blood circulation are some of the most common conditions purportedly relieved with the help of l-arginine.
How to Improve Blood Circulation Naturally
Improving the diet is the first step in improving blood circulation naturally. Improving dietary intake (dietary intake of what?). The first step towards improving the diet can be the elimination of processed foods and refined sugars. This small step will go a long way in improving heart and vascular health, thereby helping in better blood circulation.
Some of the foods that can help with blood circulation are the following:
- Dark chocolate (for vasodilatation)
- Berries (rich in antioxidants)
- Cinnamon (to reduce the level of cholesterol)
- Leafy vegetables dark in color (rich in nitrates)
- Unsaturated fats (improve heart health)
In a nutshell, poor blood circulation can be counteracted with regular exercise, an improved lifestyle, and eating healthy while looking out for your heart and vascular health.
