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.
Diabetes. Diabetes is a common condition that causes cramping in the body because of poor circulation and reduced sensations in the arms and legs.
If blood does not circulate properly, it can cause fluid to accumulate over time. This fluid accumulation is called “edema” and can be an early sign of heart failure due to the heart being unable to circulate the adequate supply of blood needed to keep the body running.
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.
Research has indicated high stress levels may lead to elevated blood pressure, which can cause poor circulation as well. To help alleviate some stress, it may be beneficial to practice meditation.
Poor blood circulation is a treatable medical condition. Whether it's caused by varicose veins, PAD, or diabetes, your doctor can recommend treatment options to enhance your circulation, so you feel much healthier.
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.
Poor circulation most often requires a cardiologist for accurate diagnosis and treatment, and it is not easy to treat poor circulation without the assistance of a cardiologist. Therefore, it is important to see a cardiologist anytime multiple symptoms of poor circulation are present.
If you have poor circulation, you may experience swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs. Swelling, also called edema, happens when blood pools in one area of the body. You may notice taut, warm skin, heaviness or stiffness in the surrounding joints, and pain.
When they do occur, the most common is chest pressure or pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris). Other signs and symptoms — which might be experienced more commonly by women, older people and people with diabetes — include: Neck or jaw pain. Shoulder or arm pain.
A simple, painless and noninvasive test called a duplex ultrasound can determine if you have bad circulation and the severity of the condition. Based on the severity of your condition, a vascular specialist doctor will determine the best treatment option for you.
On average, it takes about 45 seconds for blood to circulate from the heart, all around the body, and back to the heart again. An average adult's heart beats more than 100,000 times a day.
The test: Turn your palms upwards in front of you and stretch out your fingers, almost as if you're reaching for something just out of touch. If the creases in your palm are pale, regardless of skin tone, this may mean you're suffering from poor circulation in your blood vessels due to low iron levels.
Hyperventilation commonly occurs in people who have anxiety and panic attacks, and when it does occur the blood vessels constrict causing blood to flow more slowly throughout the body. This can create its own symptoms including, but not limited to: Cold and tingling hands and feet. Rapid heartbeat.
Start doing daily stretching, exercises, or yoga to increase blood flow. Do aerobic or cardio exercises to get your blood moving and your heart rate up. Wear compression stockings to encourage the blood to move from your legs back up to your heart. Eat a healthy diet to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Detriments to blood flow include some diseases such as diabetes which affects arteries and veins, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, blood clots and, atherosclerosis or plaque or calcification in the blood vessels. Some medications also play a part in restricting blood flow.
It's usually not serious, but symptoms can include pain, leg heaviness, aching, swelling, skin dryness, tightness, itching, irritation, and muscle cramps. Wearing compression stockings can help, but your doctor can recommend other treatment options if you don't like the way your veins look. Muscle cramps.
If you're open to supplementing your diet, Dr. Denniston recommends cayenne and ginkgo biloba—both circulatory stimulants. “Cayenne helps stimulate blood flow and ginkgo biloba improves circulation by dilating blood vessels, allowing more blood to move through them,” Dr. Denniston says.
Magnesium plays a role in blood circulation and neurotransmitter function and can help control pain by releasing pain-reducing hormones and constricting blood vessels. Improved digestion.
Which B vitamins can help circulation? Vitamin B12 is most beneficial for circulation as it helps to keep nerve and blood cells working well. Without enough vitamin B12, the body may not be able to create enough red blood cells to transport oxygen around the body. The result of this could be fatigue and weakness.