Learn How to Improve Poor Circulation in Your Lower Body

When you have poor circulation in your legs, you’re at risk for developing a number of conditions and symptoms:

• People with poor circulation may experience cramping or fatigue in the legs, buttocks or feet during activity.
• Those with poor circulation may have feet that feel tired and achy.
• Individuals with poor circulation may develop swollen feet and/ or legs.
• People with poor circulation may awaken in the night with intense cramping.
• Those with poor circulation, who don’t move around a lot for extended periods of time, can develop blood clots known as DVT (deep vein thrombosis).
• Individuals with poor circulation may get cold feet or feet that feel like they’re asleep (pins and needles sensation).
• People with poor circulation may suffer from bad leg veins – both varicose veins and spider veins.

Why does poor circulation cause such harm to your body? Your body needs the right amount of blood flow to keep your heart pumping, your legs moving and your brain functioning, so poor circulation can have many negative effects.

It’s important to watch out for the causes of poor circulation so that you can help yourself overcome the symptoms of poor circulation.

Poor leg circulation – restricted blood flow to the legs – is most commonly caused by peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, disorders involving blood vessels on the outside of the heart. PVD can involve peripheral arteries (blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart) or peripheral veins (blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart) and later result in poor circulation.

When PVD involves the arteries, it is known as peripheral artery disease, or PAD. A fatty substance called plaque builds up and hardens on the walls of the peripheral arteries, making it difficult for blood to properly flow through and thus causing poor circulation. The plaque takes years to build up, which is why older adults are more at risk for poor circulation.

In addition, the following behaviors or conditions can also contribute to poor circulation:

• Tobacco smoking can lead to poor circulation in the lower body.
• Obesity can cause poor circulation as well as other conditions like flat feet.
• Not exercising enough can cause poor circulation.
• Not eating right can cause clogged arteries, and in turn lead to poor circulation.
• High blood pressure can lead to poor circulation.
• High cholesterol can cause poor circulation.
• Diabetes affects the entire body and can contribute to poor circulation.

• Certain nerve and thyroid conditions can lead to poor circulation.

• Pregnancy can result in poor circulation and symptoms like swollen legs and leg veins.
• Long periods of sitting in a cramped and immobile position (Economy Class Syndrome/ DVT) can lead to poor circulation and the more serious resulting blood clot(s).

FootSmart has teamed with The Podiatry Institute to get you some tips on how to treat and prevent poor circulation in your lower body:

• Wear graduated compression hosiery and support socks to improve poor circulation and even prevent poor circulation and its effects.
• Avoid cigarette smoking to help treat and prevent poor circulation.
• Keep your feet and extremities warm with such products as wool or thermal socks to enhance poor circulation.
• Keep your blood pressure under control to alleviate poor circulation.
• Exercise on a regular and frequent basis – try 30 minutes a day – to help treat and prevent poor circulation. Just walking or engaging in other low-impact exercises that don’t stress the joints – such as biking, stepping or swimming – is enough to improve poor circulation.
• Keep your cholesterol levels in the healthy range to help make sure you don’t get symptoms of poor circulation.
• Consider buying products, like leg elevators, bed wedges and leg wedges, to improve poor circulation while you rest at home.
• Keep moving – avoid staying immobile for long periods of time – to help prevent poor circulation and serious conditions like DVT.

If you think you have poor circulation, see your doctor, because poor circulation can be quite serious and an indication of another medical problem. And remember to shop FootSmart for a variety of products to improve poor circulation in your lower body.

Information on foot and lower body health conditions like poor circulation provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.