Causes of Poor Leg Circulation
The heart pumps blood throughout your body using your veins and arteries. Arteries lead from the heart to the body, thus carrying precious blood from your heart to areas that need it. Veins, on the other hand, transport blood from your body back to your heart according to the Merriam-Webster website.
Thus, healthy arteries and veins are integral to the heart's job of distributing and circulating blood flow to your legs. Sometimes, people develop poor leg circulation. A couple of the first clues that you've got poor leg circulation are that you feel pain or numbness in your legs and/or note that your legs, ankles and/or feet take on a swollen appearance.
The following conditions can trigger poor leg circulation (Live Strong and Mayo Clinic websites):
Arteriosclerosis
This disease involves a build-up of plaque in the arteries, which hampers blood flow to various areas of the body, including the legs. Arteriosclerosis is closing connected with Peripheral Artery Disease discussed below.
Diabetes is a condition that, on its own, causes blood vessels to narrow and arteries to become hardened, thus hampering blood circulation in the legs.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Closely related to PVD, PAD is triggered when fat collects in the arteries to the point of obstructing the steady flow of blood in peripheral arteries leading from your heart to your brain, and extremities, such as your arms and legs. Causes of PAD are varied and include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, low levels of activity, and genetic or family history.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
This disease involves the blood vessels that carry blood to and from your brain reducing or narrowing which hampers blood flow to your extremities.
Vein Obstructions
Sometimes, people experience blockages in their veins, which slow or limit the amount of blood that can get through to your heart from your arms and legs, causing poor leg circulation.
On a deeper level, smoking, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and high blood pressure are lifestyle elements that could be connected with your poor leg circulation. These lifestyle conditions and behaviors are intimately related to several of the above causes of poor leg circulation. Therefore, recognize that if you suffer from poor leg circulation, you might very well be able to reduce its ill effects by changing certain elements of your lifestyle.
Stopping smoking, taking steps to reduce your high cholesterol and high blood pressure, exercising more, and reducing your weight could all figure in to improving circulation in your legs. However, seek a doctor's advice for how to proceed to increase the blood flow to your legs. Your physician can give you a professional opinion about your condition, including other treatment options for poor leg circulation.
Sources
Published by Pearl Grace - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
My writing career began in graduate school. I completed a thesis for my masters' in Clinical Psychology. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with individuals, children and families. I am publish... View profile
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