Just twenty to thirty minutes of brisk walking a day is enough to get your blood pumping, which is why cardio exercise is one of the most recommended ways to improve treatment for poor circulation in hands and feet.
Answer: Blood travels at three feet per second when it leaves the heart, but it slows down as it gets into smaller arteries and capillaries. It takes a minute to get around the body.
If you don't do something about your bad circulation, it won't get better on its own. In fact, it can get worse. But you can manage and improve your poor circulation with lifestyle changes, medication and surgery, if necessary.
Many office workers spend the majority of an eight-hour day sitting at their desks. New research suggests sitting for six straight hours can impair vascular function. But walking for just 10 minutes can reverse the damage.
“Exercise helps circulation as it increases blood flow, gets the heart pumping blood around your body faster and helps flush the blood through your arteries,” explains Physiologist Jemelle. “And it's never too early or too late to start proactively looking after your cardiovascular health.”
Massages help promote healthy circulation by helping move blood and lymph fluid through your limbs, in the same way walking and exercise do. Additionally, regular massages can decrease stress, improve flexibility and immune function, reduce pain, and help you sleep better.
Poor circulation isn't a condition in itself but can result from various conditions. The most common causes include obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, and arterial issues. If you have signs and symptoms of poor circulation, it's essential to treat the underlying causes rather than just the symptoms.
Symptoms of poor circulation are often easy to spot. They include muscle cramping, constant foot pain, and pain and throbbing in the arms and legs. As well as fatigue, varicose veins, and digestive issues. Leg cramps while walking and wounds that don't seem to heal in your legs, feet, and toes are also symptoms.
Pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which research suggests can improve blood circulation. This juice also has nutrients, including vitamin C, which strengthens blood vessels and can improve blood flow in that way.
Potassium (Vitamin K)
Potassium is an essential mineral for many important bodily functions, including blood circulation. It keeps the blood vessel walls strong and can even help prevent bulging veins.
Several foods have been shown to help improve blood flow and support heart health, including garlic, onions, beets, berries, citrus fruits, and leafy greens, among others.
Staying hydrated helps circulation by improving blood flow throughout the body. Warm water is particularly beneficial as it encourages the veins to expand, thus allowing more room for blood to flow.
Risks include cardiovascular failure, stroke, and complications such as infected skin ulcers or blood clots. If you have poor circulation, wounds heal more slowly and it takes longer to recover from illnesses. Elderly people with this condition and who are immobile are at greater risk of stroke and blood clots.
Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anemia. People with anemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don't have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.
People with poor circulation may notice their feet feel cold or numb. They may also notice discoloration. The feet may turn red, blue, purple, or white. These symptoms may worsen in certain situations, such as when a person sits still for long periods of time or goes outside in cold weather.
Such studies showed that conduit arteries increase in size as a result of exercise training (Dinenno et al.
Walking is especially good for you
Mohler, III, MD, late Director of Vascular Medicine at Penn Medicine. “Any other exercise is fine. There's no limitation in what a person with peripheral artery disease can do,” Dr.