Is Your Blood Circulating Properly?

If you’ve ever had a tingly feeling in your feet after sitting down for a while, you may have wondered what that was all about. Even if you’re young and healthy, experiences like that could be a sign that your blood isn’t circulating properly. This can come as a shock to many people, however, it’s important to learn about blood circulation, signs of an issue, potential causes, and how to treat it.

Symptoms of Poor Blood Circulation

Some symptoms of poor blood circulation are obvious, while some are more subtle. In any case, it’s important to know what to look out for so that you can take steps to improve your poor blood circulation and avoid any long-lasting damage.

• Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, and legs
• Frequent edema (swelling) of the feet, ankles, legs, and hands
• Hands and feet that are frequently cold
• Muscle and joint cramping
• Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
• Digestive problems
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin color changing

As you can see, poor blood circulation doesn’t just affect your extremities! It really does affect your whole body from head to toe and even stomach! If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with a doctor to investigate the cause of your poor circulation and come up with an effective treatment plan.

Potential Causes of Poor Blood Circulation

Poor blood circulation can be caused by a wide variety of things. Some of these causes are serious and need to be addressed immediately while others are more benign and only need to be monitored or addressed with minor changes. Here are some potential causes of poor blood circulation:

• Blood clots: Blood clots in your arms or legs can cause poor blood circulation and can be very dangerous. This is because a clot in one area can break away and travel through the bloodstream all the way to the heart or lungs which can have deadly consequences.
• Varicose veins: Varicose veins appear as large, dark, and engorged veins typically on the legs. They are caused by valve failures that prevent the swift moving of blood within these veins. Some people, especially women, are more likely to develop this condition based on their genetic history.
• Diabetes: Believe it or not, but diabetes doesn’t just affect your blood sugar! It can also affect your blood circulation as a long-term effect of high blood sugar levels from undiagnosed or improperly managed diabetes.
• Obesity: On a similar note, diabetes is often associated with obesity but obesity on its own can cause circulation issues even if your blood sugar levels are normal! This is because excess weight on your joints and appendages can cause swelling. Obesity also prevents exercise and movement, which is key to maintaining ideal levels of blood circulation within the body.

How to Improve Blood Circulation?

Depending on the cause of your poor blood circulation, there are several different ways to go about improving it. Most importantly, you should discuss your symptoms with your doctor and get tests done to find the root cause and go from there. That being said, here are some ways that you can help improve your blood circulation:

• Compression socks: Compression socks for edema can actually help increase the circulation in your feet and legs, reduce swelling, and improve pain.
• Modified exercises: Many types of exercise can help improve your blood circulation. At the same time, it’s important not to over-strain your body as this could potentially lead to a build-up of lactic acid that can also play a role in poor blood circulation.
• Insulin: Insulin is a medication that is used to treat diabetes and manage blood sugar levels. Managing these levels properly and consistently is a vital part of preventing permanent damage from diabetes that can lead to poor blood circulation.

If you feel that your blood isn’t circulating properly, you should consult with a doctor to figure out the cause and a treatment that will improve your symptoms and overall health.