Weak circulation
Blood circulation is the movement of blood throughout the body, where oxygen and food are transported to cells and collect carbon dioxide and waste. Oxidated blood moves from the left ventricle of the heart through the arteries to the capillaries in the body’s tissues, and the non-oxidized blood from the capillaries in the body tissues to the right atrium in the heart.
When the blood flow to a particular area of the body, called poor circulation, decreases, the amount of oxygen that reaches that area is called hypoxia or hypoxia. The term weak circulation is used to refer to peripheral vascular disease (peripheral arterial disease), a disease that occurs when the arteries that supply internal organs, arms, and legs are blocked by atherosclerosis.
Causes of poor circulation
The cause of poor circulation may be due to some person’s health conditions or lifestyle. There are some reasons that lead to weakness in circulation, including:
- Peripheral artery disease: May lead to poor blood circulation in the legs. This disease is caused by the accumulation of deposits in the arteries and blood vessels, which leads to hardening and narrowing, the blood passes through the limbs, causing numbness and numbness and damage to the nerve, and complications of stroke and heart attack.
- Blood clots: Blood clots block blood circulation in the body.
- Varicose veins or varicose veins: It is a hypertrophy resulting from valves failing to function, often occurring in the back of the legs, causing obstruction of blood movement and weakness in blood circulation.
- Diabetes: May lead to impaired circulation in certain areas of the body.
- obesity : Excess weight is a burden on the body, obesity and standing or sitting for long hours may lead to problems in circulation.
- Renud’s disease: Symptoms of the cold hands and feet chronic, this disease causes narrowing of small arteries in the hands and feet, which leads to weak blood flow in them, and may affect the lips, nose, ears and nipples as well.
- Smoking .
- Hypertension .
- High cholesterol .
- Lack of movement and activity.
Symptoms of impaired circulation
Symptoms of poor blood circulation vary depending on the cause of the condition. Generally, the most common symptoms are:
- Feeling numbness and numbness in the limbs.
- Painless pain in the limbs.
- Muscle spasm.
- Pain or spasm of the leg that occurs during walking (intermittent limp).
- Pain or spasm of the leg that occurs during lying down.
- Cooler feet.
- Sores that do not heal on the toes, legs, and feet.
- Change in leg color.
- Hair loss on the feet and legs.
- Changes in nail color and thickness.
- Lower the temperature in one leg compared to the other leg.
- Dizziness and dizziness in the eyes, the patient may fall to the ground and may lose consciousness as well.
Diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease
The doctor performs the following tests to diagnose peripheral arterial disease, including:
- Study of personal and family medical history of the patient: including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, cardiovascular disease, presence of symptoms in the legs while sitting, standing, walking, climbing, participating in physical activities, , And the drugs it addresses.
- Clinical examination includes:
- Note the presence of patches in the legs and feet to determine if there is enough blood flow to these areas.
- Color, temperature, appearance of legs and feet.
- Look for signs of weak wound healing on the legs and feet.
- Diagnostic tests include:
- The blood pressure called the ankle-brachial index: This test is based on the comparison between blood pressure readings in the ankles with readings of blood pressure in the arms, which is easy and painless examination.
- Doppler ultrasound test to see if the artery is open or closed. This test uses sound waves to measure blood flow in the veins and arteries in the arms and legs.
- Blood tests, such as diabetes screening, check for cholesterol levels.
- Doppler ultrasonic test: to identify the location of narrowing of the arteries accurately, and measure the degree of obstruction of blood passage.
- Regular x-ray.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- CT scan.
Improve blood circulation
There are some foods and tips that improve blood circulation, such as lifting the feet constantly, and the warm bathroom that activates blood circulation, and eating lots of vegetables and fruits, especially what is known for its characteristics that improve blood circulation, such as:
- pumpkin seeds : Pumpkin seeds contain vitamin Y, a vitamin that inhibits the formation of blood clots by reducing blood viscosity, which facilitates blood flow in the blood vessels.
- Orange: Orange is rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and bioflavonoids that promote arteries, preventing accumulation of plaque that can lead to atherosclerosis.
- Garlic : It turns out that garlic is useful to improve blood circulation by preventing accumulation of plaque in the arteries, and also has strong antibiotic properties.
- Salmon and avocado : Both salmon and avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids for heart health and circulation, and must avoid eating salmon that is grown on farms because it contains high levels of mercury.
- Grapes and berries : Both grape and raspberries contain healthy flavonoids, and have a role in increasing metabolism.
- water : It is recommended to drink eight glasses of water a day to improve blood circulation.
- Sweet pepper : This pepper not only gives a good flavor, but helps circulation in its flow to the body parts naturally.
- Onions : Onions contain alicine; an article that appears to be the most important to improve circulation, and also acts as a diuretic, and this can help relieve swelling which is often a sign of poor blood circulation.
- Rosemary plant : Fresh and dried rosemary helps to improve blood circulation.
- Ginger: Ginger contains several elements that help and stimulate the circulation.
- The food is rich in magnesium : Such as: artichoke, barley, oatmeal, nuts, beans, spinach, and other leafy vegetables, and tomatoes, these foods can help improve blood circulation and maintain good blood pressure.
- Ginkgo: This herb is widely used as a traditional medicine to improve blood circulation and overcome the problems it is exposed to. It works to expand the blood vessels, and prevents the overlap of platelets.
- Hawthorn: Hawthorn has been used for centuries to treat blood circulation and heart problems. Its fruits and leaves contain antioxidants and kerstin, a substance that has been shown to reduce histamine release. Hawthorn can be used to increase circulation and lower blood pressure. It should be used under the supervision of a doctor to ensure that interactions do not occur with cardiac drugs, such as blood thinners.
Treatment of impaired circulation
There are many ways to treat the weakness of blood circulation, including:
- Change lifestyle : A person with impaired circulation should adapt to a new lifestyle that can improve blood circulation and block arterial blockage. Here are some aspects of this lifestyle:
- Quitting smoking limits the progression of the disease and reduces pain, which is important for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes as well.
- A healthy diet can help lower cholesterol and other fat levels and can help control blood pressure.
- Control other risk factors, such as diabetes, lipid levels, and high blood pressure by following medical tips and changing lifestyle.
- Exercise : Regular exercise helps blood circulation and greatly improves. For best results patients should exercise at least three times a week for a period of 30-45 minutes.
- Drug therapy Includes:
- Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, which prevents blood clots.
- Anticoagulants, such as heparin, which works to prevent blood clotting.
- Antihypertensive drugs to slow the progression of peripheral arterial disease, reduce arteriosclerosis, and improve symptoms of lameness.
- Medications that improve blood flow to the limbs.
- Drugs to control high blood pressure to treat its rise in patients with peripheral artery disease in order to prevent strokes and seizures.
- Catheterization : Some patients with mild to severe peripheral arterial disease may need to be treated to restore blood flow to their legs. Sometimes doctors insert a catheter into the blocked artery, blow a balloon inside it to open the occlusion area, and then place a metal brace to keep the artery open. This procedure is also commonly used to treat coronary arteries that return blood to the heart muscle.
- Perform surgery for peripheral vascular disease : Surgical treatment of peripheral artery disease involves either vascular surgery done by vascular surgeon, or the removal of the lining of the artery.