Poor circulation in the feet is as frustrating as it is uncomfortable.
This is because poor circulation is not a disease. It is an intricate symptom that is caused by a variety of diseases. While there are many ways to alleviate the discomfort brought about by poor circulation in feet, you’re often left wondering what the main cause of your pain is.
We understand how difficult it is to get good circulation in your feet, and because poor circulation is such an intricate symptom, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about poor foot circulation, what it feels like and what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
What is poor foot circulation?
Simply put, poor foot circulation is when your body fails to carry enough blood to your lower extremities (feet). There are a number of things that can cause poor circulation, but it mainly all boils down to obstruction in your arteries.
Signs and symptoms of poor circulation in feet
At first, it can be very hard to notice problems with poor circulation. Most of the signs and symptoms may coincide with the usual aches we experience after a long day at work. They might even feel like regular pains from walking long distances, or from when your feet fall asleep.
The reality is, some of the symptoms may seem very normal, so it’s important to be conscious of what you’re feeling, and always consult with your physician.
As such, you should be aware of the common signs to look out for so that you can seek treatment as soon as possible. If you’re worried that you may have poor circulation, here are some symptoms to look out for:
Symptoms of Poor Foot Circulation that you can feel:
- Incessant feeling of coldness in your feet, often very icy
- Numbness in your toes
- Painful cramps in your feet, regardless of whether you’ve been active or not
- Frequent tingling in your lower extremities
- Inability to walk for long distances without feeling pain in the calves
Symptoms of Poor Foot Circulation that you can see:
- Toe discoloration. Your toes may appear blue, red or purple. They may even appear blistered like when you go outside in the cold without warm clothing
- Dry, cracked skin even when you are well hydrated
- Slight to severe swelling in the feet
- Loss of hair on the feet and legs due to poor blood flow
These are clues that your body uses to warn you of poor foot circulation. Be aware of what your body is trying to tell you, and consult a doctor. Don’t ignore any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild.
How to keep feet warm with poor circulation
Even while you and your doctor identify the cause of your symptoms, there are several things you can do to keep your feet warm. They include:
1. Exercising
Even very mild exercise can go a long way in helping you get blood flowing in your feet as well as keeping you warm. Take a short swim, go for a walk, buy a foot exercise machine, or even walk up a flight of stairs. You don’t have to strain yourself to get the benefits of exercise.
2. Elevating your legs when sleeping
Sleeping with a pillow under your feet helps push blood from the lower extremities towards the heart, thereby improving blood circulation. Just make sure to keep your feet warm with socks as you sleep.
3. Using electric foot warmers
Electric heated foot warmers can give you cosy warmth in your feet and legs thus keeping you comfortable all night long.
4. Wearing compression stockings
It is advisable to wear leg compression socks to promote flow of blood throughout your legs and also keep your legs warm and cosy. There are athletic compression stockings that can be worn when running, and daily compression stockings that can be worn with daily outfits.
5. Hot and cold therapy
Hot and cold therapy can really help improve foot circulation. Even better, it’s something you can do right at the comfort of your home. When you use hot water, blood gets closer to the skin to absorb oxygen. Switching to cold water sends the blood inwards, taking all the oxygen with it. Switching back to hot water gets the blood towards the surface for more oxygen thus improving foot circulation.
6. Circulation boosters
Consider buying a circulation boosting machine (such as Revitive circulation boosters) that many people claim can help with poor circulation.
Disclaimer: Pedi Reviews does not provide medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. All suggestions on this site should be discussed with your doctor or podiatrist and should not be used as visitor’s sole source of information.
