Poor circulation in the body could be a sign of bad health. Many serious health conditions initially present with poor circulation warrant a checkup by a general physician. Conditions associated with poor circulation include diabetes, atherosclerosis (hardening of vessels), obesity, peripheral arterial disease, clotting of blood, and autoimmune diseases like Raynaud’s disease.
The symptoms of poor blood circulation are many. In the legs, it could present initially as tingling or numbness that doesn’t go away. Some people describe this sensation as the ‘pins and needles’ sensation. Another common symptom is cold extremities—even in warm weather. This could be accompanied by cramping muscles as well as stinging and pain.
Apart from medication, there are some measures you can take to improve circulation in legs:
Table of Contents
1- Stop smoking:
Smoke is pretty detrimental to the arterial walls. The nicotine in cigarettes irritates the walls of the arteries, causing them to thicken and harden. The result is hypertension and poor flow of blood to the extremities. Thus, quitting smoking can have a significant impact on circulation in the legs.
2- Compression stockings:
Compression stockings are particularly designed to improve venous circulation in the legs. They fit tighter around the foot, and gradually loosen towards the leg. They are prescription stockings that prevent blood from pooling in the veins of the legs.
For people who suffer from a lot of leg swelling and pain, it can provide almost instant relief. In conjunction with proper medication and exercise, they can help considerably improve the circulation in legs.
3- Exercise:
Exercise can help address multiple issues when you are dealing with poor circulation in the legs. It can combat increased stress levels, hypertension and also get the peripheral pumps working so that the blood goes back to the heart.
Exercise can also help improve the blood sugar levels, overcome insulin resistance, and generally improve the condition of the vessels. High blood glucose, as seen in diabetes, causes decreased blood flow to the peripheries when glucose causes damage to the vessel walls and decreases the radius of the vessels.
Therefore aerobic exercises like jogging, running, swimming, walking and cycling, can all help improve circulation in the legs and eradicate the symptoms of pain and swellings. Combining exercise with compression stockings is even better.
4- Drink more water:
Blood is made of a lot of water. Good hydration will prevent the blood from thickening and slowing down. 10 to 15 glasses of water a day are a must for anyone suffering from poor circulation in the extremities.
5- Take a warm bath:
A warm bath can help fix an acute situation. Warm water will cause the arteries and veins to widen a bit, thus improving the circulation. It is a great way to begin your day as well so that your blood flow gets a quick kick-start.
If you are suffering from poor circulation in the extremities, then it warrants a complete check-up. Book an appointment with top general physician in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
