Healthy circulation is vital to the effective functioning of your body. Dr Margarita Brida, consultant cardiologist, explains what the symptoms of poor circulation are, how you can improve your circulation, and what treatments there are to manage the condition. Vascular disease, the medical term for diseases of the veins and arteries, most commonly affects the arteries of the heart, brain, and legs. Diseases of the circulatory system are more common than heart disease and cancer, affecting around four million people in the UK and accounting for almost 40 per cent of deaths each year.
Meanwhile, narrowing of the arteries in the legs can restrict blood flow to the feet, in a condition known as peripheral arterial disease PAD. This can make you more prone to injury, infection, and ulceration. Poor circulation can also cause your skin to heal more slowly. You may experience painful cramps in your calf muscles during activity, and also possible in your hip and thigh, which improve after rest. The pain typically comes on each time after the same amount of exercise e.
This occurs due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients reaching your tissues effectively due to poor flow of blood. Lack of blood supply to the extremities can result in feelings of weakness and numbness in these areas. When the valves in the vein become weakened, blood and pressure builds up causing the veins just below the surface of the skin to twist and swell. They are usually blue or purple in colour and appear near the feet and ankles.
When blood supply is restricted, the body lacks the fuel it needs to maintain optimum energy and temperature levels. The brain relies on blood flow to function properly, so reduced blood flow may result in difficulty concentrating and problems with short and long-term memory. Vascular dementia , which affects around , people in the UK, occurs due to reduced blood flow to the brain, and typically worsens over time. Symptoms can include problems with concentration, difficulty with planning and slower thoughts.
Poor circulation affects your immune system as the antibodies required to fight off infections are carried in your blood stream. Poor circulation of blood can prevent the roots of your hair from receiving adequate nutrients.
