How Do You Fix Poor Circulation?

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If you’ve ever felt a tingly or numb sensation in your legs or noticed that your legs feel cool to the touch, you may suffer from poor circulation. This condition is typically a symptom of a larger health issue and when experienced often should be taken seriously. You may wonder how you can fix your bad circulation. The answer requires a proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Does Poor Circulation Mean?

Your circulatory system is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to different parts of your body. When blood flow to a specific part of your body is reduced, you may experience symptoms of poor circulation. This issue is most commonly diagnosed in your extremities, such as your arms, legs, and feet. Symptoms of inadequate circulation in the legs are often undiagnosed and ignored because many people think their pain or discomfort is just due to aging.

Having poor circulation is not a condition in itself; rather, it is commonly a result of other, underlying health issues. This is why it’s crucial to treat the root cause of your bad circulation, rather than just the symptoms. To discover if your poor leg circulation is caused by vein disease, finding a vein specialist near you is simple with us. 

What Causes Poor Circulation in the Legs?

Untitled design 20The first step in knowing how to fix poor circulation is knowing what is causing it.

There are several medical conditions that can cause bad circulation in the legs and elsewhere.

The most common cause of poor circulation is underlying venous insufficiency, also known as vein disease. This condition develops when vein valves become damaged, allowing blood to flow in the opposite direction. Healthy blood flow travels through your veins from your legs up towards your heart.

Diseased vein valves allow blood to pool, which causes decreased circulation. Over time, the blood that pools within your legs can cause painful symptoms, inflammation, and put you at risk for serious health issues.

Beyond vein disease, there are other common conditions that may be the cause of poor circulation. These include:

Peripheral artery disease (PAD): PAD is characterized by a narrowing of the blood vessels in the leg that restricts oxygenated blood from reaching areas of the body.

  • Blood clots: These can develop anywhere in the body and trigger disruptions in circulation.
  • Varicose veins: These enlarged veins cannot transport blood through the body as efficiently as normal veins.
  • Diabetes: Not only can diabetes cause bad circulation, but the condition can also trigger diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage that reduces sensation in the legs and arms.
  • Obesity: Added weight can put pressure on blood vessels, especially after standing or sitting for several hours.
  • Raynaud’s disease: Raynaud’s occurs when inadequate circulation causes cold feet or hands. It impacts the small arteries and causes them to narrow, making it harder for blood to circulate in your body.
  • If you experience poor circulation from sitting and can’t find relief from your symptoms, you can schedule an appointment with a vein specialist to find the right treatment to find how to get better circulation in the legs.

What Can Poor Circulation Cause?

Bad circulation in the legs can cause symptoms such as:

  • Cool feet or legs: Reduced blood flow in your feet causes them to feel colder than other parts of your body.
  • Swollen legs, ankles, or feet: When your veins can’t push blood upward, it can collect in your legs. This blood pooling puts extra pressure on the area, causing fluid buildup and swelling.
  • Muscle cramping: Inconsistent blood flow may create muscle aches and pains. This can potentially lead to restless legs syndrome (RLS) as well.
  • Numbness: Inadequate circulation may cause you to experience a tingling or numbing sensation in your thighs, calves, or feet.
  • Changes in skin color: A lack of blood flow can change the color of the skin on your feet and legs.
  • Leg wounds or ulcers: A break in the skin on your leg can become larger from increased blood pressure and take a long time to heal or may not heal at all.
  • Visible veins: When blood pools in your veins due to bad circulation, it puts pressure on the veins and causes them to bulge. This may cause varicose or spider veins to develop and become raised.

Not only can poor circulation cause painful or uncomfortable symptoms, but it can also increase your risk for a few different health issues. When left untreated, lack of circulation can lead to slow or non-healing wounds that turn into venous ulcers, the development of blood clots, or even a rare condition known as May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS).

In many cases, poor circulation is not life-threatening; however, it’s important to get underlying conditions such as venous insufficiency treated to avoid worsening symptoms. Many patients have shared that ignoring their pain had an increasingly negative impact on their daily lives. Their discomfort eventually caused them to avoid much-loved or essential daily activities.

Symptoms Quiz 5 Quick Questions to Evaluate Your Vein Health

How to Get Better Circulation in Your Legs

While it is possible to treat poor circulation temporarily, if the cause is an underlying condition like vein disease, it’s important to consult with a specialist to find out the best course of treatment for your symptoms. USA Vein Clinics can help you by providing a diagnosis and offering minimally invasive options for any vein issues causing your bad circulation. If you’re looking to incorporate healthy habits into your day, use the following tips to promote better circulation.

  • Untitled design 21Elevate your legs when you notice swelling or pressure.
  • Wear comfortable-fitting shoes that do not fit tightly around the feet or ankles.
  • Avoid sitting or standing for long periods. Instead, mix up your day by doing quick exercises between intervals of sitting or standing.
  • Move around as much as you possibly can when you are traveling either in a car or by plane.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
  • 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. This can also help reduce plaque buildup in your arteries and improve blood flow.
  • Take a warm bath. The warm temperature of the water opens up your veins and arteries, allowing more blood to circulate through.

Before adding any new exercises to your routine, make sure to consult with your doctor. Once you receive treatment for poor circulation in the legs, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help keep your blood flowing. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle habits to follow to better maintain the improvement in circulation.

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Schedule Treatment for Poor Circulation

Professional treatment is the answer to fix poor circulation and can help lower your risk of developing chronic varicose or spider veins. Many people may ignore their symptoms or wait for them to improve on their own. Even if you are able to exercise every day, vein disease can still be present. Not until you treat damaged vein valves will you know how to get better circulation in the legs and notice the results.

USA Vein Clinics provides various minimally invasive treatment options and quicker recovery times.

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) uses heat to close any malfunctioning veins, visual sclerotherapy injections use a solution to seal the vein shut, and Varithena vein treatment uses a foam to collapse the vein; all allow nearby veins to take over the job of the one that is no longer in use. A vein specialist will discuss your condition and help you determine the best path forward to help your legs become healthier.

Schedule a Consultation with USA Vein Clinics

At USA Vein Clinics, our goal is to help improve the quality of life for our patients through minimally invasive treatments. When you schedule a consultation, a vein specialist will discuss the treatment option that will work best for you. Give us a call at 888.768.3467 or schedule online to start your journey to improved circulation today.

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