Poor circulation in your feet can cause various health problems. If you have an existing health condition, it can become worse. Poor circulation can initially be felt in the extremities; the hands, legs, and feet. How does poor circulation threaten your health or make your current health problems worse?
Possible Diseases
Pain or similar problems in your feet can be a sign of poor circulation. Just how can poor circulation happen? There are many different reasons that can cause or contribute to the condition such as:
- Unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, drugs, and alcohol;
- Obesity;
- Little to no exercise; and
- Bad food choices among others.
All of these contribute to the narrowing of the arteries making it difficult for the blood and nutrients to reach your muscles and organs. The lowered oxygen level will affect the normal ability and function of your body causing diseases like:
- High blood pressure;
- High cholesterol;
- Varicose veins;
- Strokes;
- Kidney damage;
- Atherosclerosis;
- Nerve damage; and
- Infections among others.
Diabetics are more prone to have foot problems and with the possibility of nerve damage, they can get ulcers, sores, blisters, deformed feet, or at worse get their legs, feet, or toes amputated. Poor circulation can also contribute to slow healing of wounds even if you do not have diabetes.
Poor Circulation Symptoms
The difficult thing with poor circulation in the feet is that some may not feel any symptoms while others can experience a burning sensation in their feet. The pain can become aggravated by exercise or walking, but can be reduced with appropriate rest. What are the other symptoms that can be generally felt by those with poor circulation?
- Painful muscle cramps in the thigh, calf, or hip;
- Numbness or weakness of the legs;
- Poor healing wounds;
- Unexplainable change in skin colour of the legs;
- Cold feeling in your lower legs or feet;
- Slow toenail growth;
- Weak or no pulse in the legs or feet;
- Slow hair growth or hair loss on your legs and feet; and
- Possible erectile dysfunction for men.
Lifestyle Changes against Poor Circulation
Preventing poor circulation particularly in your feet can be done with a few lifestyle changes to complement the advice of your doctor. This is not designed to cure your poor circulation problem, but rather, lower your risk factors.
First is to regularly exercise. Any health practitioner will agree that an active lifestyle is better than a sedentary one. If you do not exercise regularly, remember to take things slow at first and always consult a medical professional before engaging in any exercise program. About 30 minutes of light exercise everyday will do wonders for your blood circulation.
Did you know that exercise without a healthy diet is useless? So once you start exercising, or even before that, it would be wise to invest in a healthy diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and drink ample amounts of water to maintain normal bodily functions.
Stop smoking to improve your blood circulation. Although smoking has been related to a number of diseases, not lighting a single cigarette in your life does not necessarily spare you from its harmful effects; because of secondhand smoke. But it is still wise to stop or keep away from the habit to limit the possibility of poor blood circulation.
Improve Poor Circulation with Proper Foot Care
You do know that proper foot care plays a huge role when it comes to foot problems, right? This is especially true with poor circulation. Proper foot care allows you to make your feet more comfortable that can offset a bit any pain and discomfort you may feel from poor circulation. Better foot care involves:
- Choosing and wearing the proper shoes for comfort and injury prevention;
- Observe foot hygiene;
- Daily feet inspection; and
- Seek medical help for any infections, wounds, or sores that do not heal.
There is no doubt that when it comes to poor circulation in your feet, proper medical attention, healthy lifestyle choices, and proper foot care will go a long way in helping address the condition. When it comes to excellent footwear & foot care, Foot Solutions is definitely your best choice. Contact them today!
