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Poor Blood Circulation Symptoms & Treatment
By
Patricia | January 20, 2010
Poor blood circulation problems do not take place overnight, and is usually the result of years of poor health. It is important to remember that poor blood circulation is usually an outcome of certain lifestyle habits that tend to have a detrimental effect on our health. In addition to poor lifestyle habits, factors such as a poor diet and lack of daily physical exercise causes fatty deposits to be formed on the arterial walls. These fatty deposits when hardened over a period of time become plaques that create obstructions to the smooth flow of blood which goes to and fro the heart.
The formation of plaques takes a long time to develop and hence poor circulation problems are usually seen among the elderly rather than affecting children. Unhealthy food habits also contribute to the buildup of bad cholesterol that creates an anomaly in the smooth flow of the blood. Since blood circulation takes place throughout the body, blood circulatory disorders are usually manifested in numerous ways.
Treatment And Circulatory Disorders
- The brain receives approximately 20 percent of the blood that is circulated in the body. When there is a drop in the flow of blood or there is a sign of poor circulatory disorder, the brain may start to function in a suboptimal manner and can result in symptoms from lethargy, poor memory, slow mental clarity, unexplained headaches, frequent bouts of dizziness etc.
- Poor blood circulation primarily affects the heart and major symptoms include chest pains, hypertension, increased cholesterol and triglycerides levels etc. Patients with poor blood circulation usually find difficulty in performing even simple tasks such as climbing the stairs, walking for prolonged distances etc. that causes the affected individual to feel extremely tired and breathless.
- The liver is also affected with poor blood circulation and symptoms including lack of appetite and sudden weight loss. These early symptoms of poor blood circulation to the liver are signs that the liver is getting sluggish. All these factors can also contribute to a lackluster appearance on the skin.
- The kidneys are one of the most important organs in the body for regulating and monitoring the blood pressure in addition to getting rid of the waste and excess water from the body. When poor circulation of the blood affects the kidneys, patients start noticing abnormal swelling of the limbs, rise in blood pressure and altered pulse rate that causes the patient to feel tired and lethargic all the time.
- The poor circulation of blood in the body can also have a serious impact on the limbs. Patients begin to experience sudden numbness on the hands, fingers and feet and usually complain of painful leg cramps especially during the night. Advanced symptoms of poor blood circulation that can indicate a serious problem include varicose veins and a condition known as cyanosis -- a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; a sign that oxygen in the blood is dangerously diminished.
- Your physician is likely to recommend you to start on a healthy diet and increase significant amount of exercise in your daily lifestyle. It is important to move around as much as possible, as a sedentary lifestyle is known to cause further deterioration of blood circulation and lead to secondary complications. Please consult with your doctor for an immediate diagnosis and the correct treatment to prevent further disorders.