• Blood is essential to our body. Clogged arteries can lead to serious health consequences. It’s imperative to find ways to improve poor circulation
• Problems associated with poor circulation are heart attack risks, stroke, tingling and numbness in hands and feet. The top two causes are diabetes and peripheral artery disease

Blood is important to our bodies. It carries oxygen and other nutrients that our body needs to function properly. When blood cannot reach every part of us, we can face serious health consequences. That is why if we recognize a problem, we should find ways to increase blood circulation and to minimize our potential for developing serious problems.

Problems Associated with Poor Circulation

One of the major problems can be the risk of heart attacks and stroke. When our arteries become blocked, the oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the major organs that keep us alive. In that case, our body incurs severe damage and sometimes, in very serious cases, death may result.

If we increase blood circulation, we can improve our body’s response to infection. Diabetic patients, for example, have problems with circulation and as a result have trouble healing. After surgery, a diabetic patient may take much longer to heal than a non-diabetic patient. That extra time increases risks for complications.

At a less dangerous level, poor circulation can cause tingling and numbness in our hands and feet. We may also have a harder time keeping our hands and feet warm in cold weather. We could also experience shortness of breath or problems with our memories and concentration depending on where our circulation problems were located.

Poor Circulation Causes

Although there are several causes of poor circulation, two of the most common are diabetes and peripheral artery disease. According to the Grove City Medical Center, uncontrolled diabetes can make our arteries hard and less flexible, which means blood has a much harder time flowing through them. This can lead to serious circulation problems.

Peripheral artery disease is usually associated with the buildup of plague on the artery walls (a condition known as atherosclerosis), according to the Mayo Clinic. This is caused by high cholesterol levels. When the plague against the walls thickens, blood has a harder time getting through the artery and clots will sometimes form blockages that can lead to serious complications.

Start to Improve Blood Circulation

Regardless of the origin of your circulatory problems, you can begin improving the situation. According to the Mayo Clinic, your physician will probably put you on some medications to help keep the problem from getting worse, including drugs that will help lower your cholesterol, reduce your blood pressure, and if you have it, control your diabetes. In severe cases of narrowed arteries, you may have to undergo surgery, such as angioplasty. This procedure helps improve blood circulation by using a catheter to open a balloon inside the artery to let blood flow more freely.

Lifestyle changes can also help. Getting enough exercise and not smoking can help your body learn to use blood more efficiently so even with reduced blood flow you won’t have as many problems. Healthy diet is also important to improve your blood circulation.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some herbs also show potential in helping to improve blood circulation. These herbs include lavender, hawthorn, and rosemary. Always consult your physician before using any type of herbal or alternative treatments for your medical conditions.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.