Poor circulation is common in the feet and lower legs for two reasons. First, these parts of the body are at the furthest reaches of your circulatory system, so it’s hard for your heart to pump blood efficiently around them. And second, certain health conditions (such as diabetes) can impair blood flow to and from the extremities.
We’ll discuss those points in this guide to blood flow problems in the feet and lower legs. Our first-class podiatry services include treating poor circulation, so if you’re concerned about the blood supply in your lower limbs, simply book an appointment for expert assistance.
Symptoms of Poor Circulation in the Lower Extremities
You could well have poor circulation in your feet and lower legs if these areas are affected by any of the following symptoms:
- Persistent coldness
- Numbness or strange sensations (such as tingling, pins and needles, stinging or heaviness)
- Muscle weakness, stiffness and cramps
- Pain/aching
- Swelling, including swollen veins (you might even develop bulging varicose veins)
- Tight/shiny or extremely dry skin
- Hair loss
- Red/blue/purple toes and brittle toenails
- Lengthy healing time for wounds/infections (i.e. several weeks or months)
Your Circulatory System Faces Significant Challenges
Your circulatory system consists of your heart, blood vessels and blood. It supplies your body with oxygen, nutrients and illness-fighting white blood cells and removes waste. If the blood flow to/from certain areas is impaired, those areas will struggle to survive, cope with physical activity, combat germs and repair damage.
The risk of developing poor circulation in your feet and lower legs is high because the circulatory system encounters significant challenges in these parts of the body:
- Many of your smallest – and therefore most easily damaged and easily blocked – blood vessels are in the lower extremities, so the blood supply is particularly prone to developing issues there.
- The effect of gravity on your circulatory system makes carrying blood away from your feet and lower legs an uphill struggle. Slow-moving blood pools in veins, straining their walls and valves and leading to swelling.
- Your calf muscles can only act as a blood pump when you’re active. They need to contract and relax repeatedly to help your heart move blood up your legs.
Several Health Conditions Impair Circulation in the Feet and Lower Legs
In addition to facing significant challenges due to the body’s structure, blood flow in the feet and lower legs may be undermined by certain medical conditions:
- Diabetes – high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels (and therefore make diabetic foot assessments incredibly important).
- High blood pressure strains arteries and smaller vessels, tearing their linings.
- Atherosclerosis – plaque (a mixture of fat, cholesterol, calcium and waste) builds up inside arteries.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) – plaque build-up reduces the blood supply to leg muscles.
- Raynaud’s syndrome – small blood vessels in the extremities experience spasms due to stress or cold temperatures.
- Buerger disease – blood clots block blood vessels in the feet, lower legs and elsewhere.
Other factors can also negatively affect circulation in the lower limbs:
- Ageing – blood vessels stiffen and narrow due to a loss of elasticity and accumulation of plaque.
- Smoking releases toxins that reduce blood oxygen levels and encourage clots. (The terms smoker’s leg and smoker’s feet refer to smoking-related circulatory problems.)
- Obesity puts the lower limbs under strain, making it harder for blood to flow.
- Dehydration thickens blood and reduces its overall volume, forcing vessels to constrict to avoid a drop in blood pressure.
- Sedentary lifestyle – standing/sitting for long periods makes circulation sluggish.
Combat Poor Circulation at London Podiatry Clinics
Seeing a podiatrist if you suspect you have poor circulation is vital, as ignoring the issue may lead to skin/tissue death and serious blood clots.
Our London podiatry experts can carry out a vascular assessment (including a Doppler ultrasound test to check blood flow) to identify circulatory issues and create a tailored treatment plan (potentially including wound care, compression socks and medication).
We can also walk you through circulation-boosting lifestyle changes, such as performing calf muscle-activating exercises and elevating your legs slightly above your heart.
For professional help to combat poor circulation in your feet and lower legs, contact Feet By Pody today.