CIRCULATION: POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION
Circulation: Poor Blood Circulation - Causes
Question: Poor Circulation - Why am I getting cold hands and feet? What treatments should I consider?
Answer: Some people wear mittens and heavy socks all year round, even in warm weather, indoors and out. Their hands and feet are always cold. A number of things cause this, such as:
- Poor circulation due to coronary heart disease
- Raynaud's disease (disorder that affects the flow of blood to the fingers and sometimes to the toes)
- Frostbite
- Working with vibrating equipment (like a jackhammer)
- A side effect of taking certain medications
- An underlying disease affecting blood flow in the tiny blood vessels of the skin. (Women smokers may be prone to this last condition.)
- Stress
Circulation: Poor Blood Circulation - Self care tips:
Here are some Self-Care Tips that you may want to try is you think that you may be having symptoms of poor blood circulation. If you symptoms persist despite self care measures, you should discuss your seek the advice of your doctor or other health care provider:
- Stay indoors where it's warm.
- Wear gloves and wool socks.
- Do not wear footwear that is tight-fitting.
- Wiggle your toes. It may help keep them warm as a result of increased blood flow.
- Avoid handling cold objects. Use ice tongs to pick up ice cubes, for instance.
- Don't smoke. It impairs circulation.
- Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels.
- With fingers outstretched, swing your arms in large circles, like a baseball pitcher warming up for a game. This may increase blood flow to the fingers. (Skip this tip if you have bursitis or back problems.)
- Practice a relaxation technique, such as biofeedback.
