Poor circulation can be very unpleasant. It can occur in men, women and children. If it isn’t handled, it can lead to a lifetime of discomfort and even more serious problems.
Problems start once blood flow become restricted to certain parts of the body. Often people notice it at the extremities of the body such as the toes or fingers. However, it can affect everywhere.
One common cause is a build up of plaque on the insides of the blood vessels and capillaries.
This is usually caused by fat build-up on the inner cell walls.
In mild situations this can just cause a little discomfort. However, if it worsens it can become rather serious.
Some of these more serious conditions can be high blood pressure, heart problems, hypertension, organ damage, strokes, varicose veins, kidney issues, and other blood restriction difficulties which may arise.
Poor circulation also can cause serious damage to your brain, heart, liver, kidney and limbs. It’s most common in elderly people but should be taken seriously at any age.
Here are 10 warning signs that you may have something wrong with your circulatory system:
1. Painful Cramps:
You may experience painful cramps in in your hip, thigh or calf muscles during activity, which gets better after rest. Typically the pain comes on each time after the same amount of exercise (eg walking the same distance at the same pace).
2. Cold Hands and Feet
Proper blood flow helps maintain a healthy body temperature. When blood flow is interrupted, the body cannot maintain its normal temperature, resulting in cold hands and feet. Due to poor circulation, blood is not able to travel easily to the furthest parts of your body, such as your fingers and toes. Reduced oxygen levels in the body’s cells can lead to cold extremities. Rubbing the affected area is a natural response to encourage blood to flow more quickly to those areas.
Other common causes of cold hands and feet are an underactive thyroid, Raynaud’s syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. If you have cold extremities without any known reason, consult your doctor to find out the exact cause.
3. Weakened Immune System
The circulatory system is directly responsible for maintaining a healthy immune system. When you have poor circulation, the vitamins and minerals your body needs to fight off infection may not be delivered as quickly or in great enough quantities as they would be via a healthy circulatory system. Additionally, due to the digestive malfunctions which often accompany poor circulation, certain minerals and amino acids which our bodies require in order to synthesize immune-boosting enzymes may be in short supply.
4. Persistent Fatigue and Tiredness
Fatigue is a common side effect of physical exertion and many medications. However, a constant feeling of fatigue and tiredness may also indicate inadequate blood supply to different body parts. This causes organs to struggle to carry out their normal duties. It even affects the muscles, as they are not getting enough oxygen and nutrients. Along with fatigue and tiredness, some people may even suffer from breathlessness, lack of stamina and sore muscles.
Other causes of fatigue include excessive alcohol use, excessive intake of caffeine, inactivity, poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits, anxiety, depression, grief and stress.
5. Varicose Veins
Varicose veins that appear in the legs can be a symptom as well as cause of poor circulation. Due to improper blood flow, pressure builds and causes the veins located just under the skin’s surface to become swollen, twisted and very visible.
Varicose veins tend to appear on the lower legs and cause pain, itchiness, restlessness, burning sensations and heaviness in the legs. The appearance of bulging veins is also a beauty concern for many people.
Other common factors contributing to varicose veins are heredity, obesity, constipation, hormonal changes in the body, use of birth control pills and even occupations that require a lot of standing.
If you have varicose veins, it is essential to wear compression stockings to enhance proper blood flow. Also, consult your doctor to determine the exact cause and treatment.
6. Sudden Hair Loss
Hair loss without any known reason is a clear sign that blood is not getting distributed properly around your body. When the scalp does not receive essential nutrients in the proper amounts, hair becomes thin, dry and starts falling out at a rapid speed.
Hair experts recommend massaging the scalp with appropriate hair oil to treat hair loss. Massage helps increase blood flow to the hair follicles. It’s important to also consult your doctor to determine if additional treatment is needed for poor circulation.
Bad circulation also causes dry skin and brittle nails due to lack of nutrients.
Other factors behind hair loss include aging, stress, excessive smoking, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance, genetic factors, scalp infections, thyroid disorder, iron-deficiency anemia and chronic illnesses.
7. Erectile Dysfunction
In men, poor blood circulation leading to reduce blood flow in the reproductive organs may also cause contribute to erectile dysfunction. This problem is characterized by consistent problems in achieving or sustaining an erection.
ED is often associated with atherosclerosis. Hence, it is suggested that men suffering from this problem should see their doctor to be evaluated for cardiovascular disease.
8. Skin Discoloring or Cyanosis
If your skin or lips turn blue, it clearly indicates low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation. This problem is also known as cyanosis.
A low oxygen level in your blood causes the color to change from bright red to darker. This makes the skin around the eyes, gums and lips look blue. Even your fingers and toes will have a slightly bruised look.
Sudden discoloration of the skin in babies can also be the first sign of congenital heart disease, so it’s important to seek medical advice immediately.
9. Tightness or Heaviness in the Chest
Your heart is responsible for pumping blood around your body, but to function properly the heart also needs adequate blood flow. Low circulation in the arteries to your heart causes tightness and heaviness in the chest.
The heavy feeling will come and go randomly. Medically, this problem is known as angina pectoris, or simply angina. Chest pain may also be a sign of atherosclerosis in these arteries.
However, chest pain can also be a symptom of a muscle spasm, heartburn, acidity, an upper respiratory infection, a stomach ulcer, and indigestion.
If you have chest pain, consult your doctor right away to prevent a potentially life-threatening medical problem.
10. Swelling of Lower Extremities
Mild cases of swelling in your feet can be due to sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time, high salt intake, malnutrition, obesity, aging, a sedentary lifestyle, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and pregnancy.
However, if you suffer from edema or swelling in your feet for quite some time, it may be because of poor blood circulation.
Due to a lack of blood flow, the kidneys become unable to carry out the process of keeping fluid in the blood vessels where it belongs.
This causes the fluid to leech out and settle into surrounding tissues, which leads to swelling. In extreme cases, poor circulation can also cause leg ulcers.
When you notice any form of swelling in your feet, raise your legs above your heart level. The swelling will subside once the circulation improves. Consult your doctor if you have persistent or extreme swelling.
Source: http://www.naturallivingideas.com