Bad Circulation Symptoms

Bad circulation is infamous for being a silent killer and is known to affect more than 10 million people across the globe. It predominantly targets the middle-aged to the elderly folks and those who smoke inevitably increase their vulnerability to bad circulation. This condition of bad circulation is known to conduce to serious damage to the legs, heart, brain, etc. So what exactly is bad circulation? Why is it referred to as a silent killer and what are the different bad circulation symptoms? Let's have a look!

What is Bad Circulation

We all know that blood flows throughout our body via arteries and veins and we also know that the heart works as a pumping organ, responsible for pumping blood into our arteries. We rarely give much thought to the way blood is circulated in the body, until we hit upon a health problem. Bad circulation is nothing but blood flow restriction to certain areas of the body. Blood is not allowed to flow in the manner it is supposed to in the body and the different organs fail to receive adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients.

Bad Circulation Causes

The most prevalent cause for bad circulation in the body is atherosclerosis, which is nothing but a condition conduced by blocked arteries. A high cholesterol diet intake for a chronic period of time, results in plaque deposition on the walls of the artery. Initially, there is no problem, however, as time progresses the buildup of plaque increases, causing the walls of the arteries to thicken. The thickened arteries slow down the flow of blood, thereby causing the heart to exert more pressure to pump the same quantity of blood. As the plaque buildup keeps increasing, the heart ends up working way too hard, the arteries fail to constrict and ends up in a heart attack.

For some people, bad circulation is also caused due to their body's response to cold temperatures. During cold weather, their body reduces the flow of blood to the extremities, in the effort to keep blood in the main arteries of the body. Diabetes is also one of the common causes of poor blood circulation in the body. Children with congenital heart disease are also seen to be affected with bad circulation problems. Moreover, let's not forget to leave out the three kings of health issues: smoking, obesity and sedentary lifestyle!

Bad Circulation Symptoms

The symptoms of bad circulation will vary depending on the area to which circulation is not adequate. Poor circulation to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, etc. will spearhead different set of symptoms. Identifying these symptoms quickly and treating the condition can prevent detrimental effects in the future. Let's have a look at the different bad circulation symptoms.

• Tingling sensation in the extremities
• Temperature change in body parts, such as extremely hot or cold extremities.
• Dizziness
• Numbness in the extremities
• Headaches
• Tired, aching feet
• Varicose veins
• Cramps and muscular pain
• Skin color may shift to extremes: either white or red.
• Sores and rashes
• Infections that take very long to heal.
• Breathlessness while climbing stairs
• Memory loss if bad circulation has taken place in the brain
• Fatigue
• Bad circulation in kidneys results in swollen extremities
• Weight loss
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Dry skin
• Color of the skin in the extremities turns bluish black

Numbness or tingling sensation in the extremities are indicators of fat deposits blocking the flow of blood in the arteries. The thickened walls prevent blood from flowing to the extremities, which is what causes the numbness. However, there can be other causes for numbness as well. In order to prevent the possibility of a heart attack, it is important to be alert and quick in identifying the symptoms of bad circulation.Thus, it is important to consult your doctor at the earliest.

Bad Circulation Treatment

The physician will have you undergo a few essential tests, such as X-rays, MRI, etc. to diagnose the problem. If the condition is not severe, a lifestyle change and diet alteration can help prevent the plaque buildup condition from aggravating. Diabetics will have to keep their sugar levels in control, while hypertensive people will need to take medication to control the blood pressure. An angioplasty may also be carried out to widen the arteries, when the block is really bad. A bypass surgery may also be conducted, wherein a blood vessel from one part is used to replace the blocked blood vessel.

Scores of people tend to ignore early bad circulation symptoms, however, this ignorance can result in irrevocable loss in the future. Besides heart attacks and strokes, one can also end up suffering from dementia. Pay heed to the signs and do something about them. Taking action at the right moment will save your life. Moreover, those of us who haven't encountered any of the symptoms of bad circulation, it's better to control our cholesterol intake and exercise regularly. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!