Recognizing the right poor circulation symptoms and signs as earlier as possible is necessary. This can help you have health checkup immediately as those symptoms can indicate that you have bad blood circulation in your body.

Some of the main reasons why some people may have bad circulation are obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor food habits, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol contribute to this problem as well.

This poor circulation or limited flow of blood throughout the body particularly affects the peripheral parts, such as hands, legs, and feet as well as to the head. If it is not properly diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it can adversely affect your health and cause severe problems or a number of health complications.

These are 7 early warning signs and symptoms of poor circulation that you need to watch for:

1. Numbness and tingling in arms or legs

Bad blood circulation causes the supply of blood and nutrients to the nerves to be disturbed,  which in turn the nerves can’t send signals to brain adequately. This results in numbness or lack of sensation in legs and arms. It is accompanied by tingling which can also take the form of “pins and needle” sensation. These are generally the first poor circulation symptoms.

2. Cramps and muscle spasms

Leg cramps mostly localized in the calf or hip area are another one of poor blood circulation symptoms.

3. Leg ache

If your legs start to itch and pain after short periods of inactivity or standing, it could be a sign of poor circulation.

4. Pitting edema or swelling in legs, particularly the feet

Edema is the retention of fluid beneath the skin. This condition results in swelling and redness in legs and in most cases is the first physical manifestation of the disease. You can easily check your legs for edema by putting mild pressure on the legs. If indentation persists after removing the pressure, you may be suffering from edema. This kind of condition also indicates that you have bad circulation.

5. Frequent Headaches and memory problems

In order to work properly and efficiently, our brain requires a great amount of blood as it is filled with millions of nerves. When the arteries become blocked and the blood flow is reduced, it can take several forms. Dizziness, a lethargic demeanor, memory loss and a lack of overall mental acuity are some of its most frequent poor circulation symptoms and signs. It may even cause frequent headaches and migraines that come without a cause.

6. Discoloration of legs

Another sign of insufficient supply of oxygen in the legs is the change in color of your legs. They could develop a pale and waxy hue and in severe cases may turn blue or purple. If poor blood circulation persists, they may even turn black which indicates the onset of gangrene.

7. Slow Healing Process in Case of Injury Like Wound

If the blood circulation to the legs is impeded, it can affect the ability of the body to heal. Small injuries can get infected and develop into major wounds. If this condition continues for a long period of time, they can cause the death of the tissue and the only treatment left would be amputation of the leg.

These are poor circulation symptoms which should not be ignored when noticed; they indicate that you need to consult your doctor.

Related posts:

1. Don’t Ignore Tingling in Hands! It Could Be Poor Circulation!
2. Blocked Arteries – The Causes of Poor Circulation That Often Undiagnosed
3. How is Pain in Lower Leg Due to Bad or Poor Circulation Treated?
4. Understand Poor Circulation in Legs and Find The Solutions
5. Poor Blood Circulation: Symptoms, Causes, Natural Treatments