Reduced blood flow occurs when there are blockages in the arteries that carry blood from the heart or in the veins that return it. The main signs that the body shows are:
1. Numbness and Tingling in the Hands and Feet
This is one of the most common symptoms. You feel a tingling and numbness in your hands and feet because there is not enough blood reaching those areas.
2. Cold Hands and Feet
Regardless of the weather, cold hands and feet are a clear sign of reduced blood flow. Our body’s proper temperature is maintained by blood circulation.
3. Muscle Cramps/Claudication
You may experience severe pain and cramping in the muscles of your legs when walking or climbing stairs. However, this pain will go away after resting for a while. This is a sign of a blockage in the blood vessels.
4. Edema in the legs
When blood circulation is not smooth, blood pools in the veins of the legs and fluid accumulates in the tissues of that area, causing swelling. This is why swelling is seen in the ankles, especially in the evening.
5. Cyanosis
When the amount of oxygen reaching the legs and arms decreases, the skin may turn pale or slightly blue. In addition, excessive dryness of the skin on the legs and hair loss are due to poor blood flow.
6. Slow Healing
If you have a wound or sore anywhere on your body, you should pay attention if it takes longer than usual to heal. This is because the white blood cells and nutrients needed to heal the wound are not reaching that area properly.
3 simple things to increase blood flow:
Exercise: Walking or cycling briskly for 30 minutes every day is great for increasing blood flow.
Avoid sitting at work: Sitting for long periods of time reduces blood flow to your legs. Get up and walk for a short time every hour.
Avoid smoking: Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.