Running, biking or walking can help boost circulation—and the same goes for stretching before and after exercising. If you smoke, quit. Smoking can inhibit blood flow, destroy blood vessel walls, and cause plaque to accumulate in the veins.
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. Potassium can be found in a variety of healthy and tasty foods like bananas and avocados.
These symptoms can last as little as 1 minute or as long as several hours.
Trans fats, saturated fats, excess salt, and added sugars can all negatively impact circulation. Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oily fish, and nuts may help improve circulation. Exercising regularly, staying hydrated, and avoiding smoking also help improve circulation.
Not only is poor blood circulation in the legs and feet uncomfortable, but it can cause life-threatening problems if it goes unchecked. Always seek medical assistance if you're suffering from any of the symptoms, especially if you've been diagnosed with one of the known causes of poor blood circulation.
Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons contain antioxidants shown to decrease inflammation and prevent blood clots from forming, allowing blood to flow easily through the body. This popular seasonal fruit is super high in L-citrulline, which studies show combats hypertension.
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.
Research has indicated high stress levels may lead to elevated blood pressure, which can cause poor circulation as well.
Blood clots don't always become mobile, but it is important that you keep your circulation optimal so blood clots do not form. If you have pain, swelling, tenderness, a warm sensation, and a reddish discoloration in your legs or arms, you should seek medical attention.
Omega-3 fish oils (DHA and EPA) relax blood vessels and reduce blood pressure, bringing down the risk of heart and circulatory disease. Some studies suggest that fish oils relax blood vessels by affecting how cells in the inner lining of blood vessels work, but we don't fully understand how this happens.
Circulatory herbs like Rosemary, Ginkgo leaf, Gotu kola and Butcher's broom can help strengthen blood vessel walls and capillaries, reduce inflammation and swelling, and improve blood flow. These herbs are best taken in a therapeutic dose as a liquid tincture, tablet or capsule.
Research has shown that in most parts of the body, caffeine acts as a vasodilator by stimulating the release of nitric oxide. That means it widens blood vessels to increase blood flow and improve circulation. Both can help prevent heart problems and the development of heart disease.
Ginger has been known to improve body circulation, because it contains magnesium, chromium, and zinc — all minerals known to improve blood flow. Ginger can also help you reduce your flu and cold symptoms if you are feeling under the weather.
Packed with potassium, bananas can help improve blood flow by lowering blood pressure. Too much sodium in your diet can cause high blood pressure, but potassium helps the kidneys remove extra sodium from your body, which then passes through your urine. This helps relax blood vessels and enable blood flow.
Sleeping on your left side to make it easier for blood to flow in and around your heart. Keeping your arms at your sides instead of under or behind your head. Making sure your pillow supports your neck and spine and keeps them neutrally aligned.
When we spend many hours lying down, blood pools in the legs, lower volumes of blood are pumped through the body even though the heart works harder, oxygen uptake is reduced, and the risk of blood clots is increased, particularly in the legs and lungs.