Poor Blood Circulation in Your Feet: Symptoms and Treatment

If you have any personal history of foot problems, podiatrists in Ocala, FL can help diagnose and treat you. Poor circulation in the feet is more common than you might think. There are a variety of symptoms you can experience and specific causes of this issue.

What Are the Symptoms of Poor Blood Circulation in the Feet?

Poor foot circulation often indicates that you are experiencing a larger problem. Your symptoms can range from slightly annoying to painful and concerning. You may experience aching in your legs even while at rest, a cold, clammy sensation in your feet, and tingling and pins and needles sensations radiating from your lower legs into the feet.

Other symptoms may include swelling of the feet and ankles, painful cramps in your legs and feet, bluish discoloration of the toes, dry, cracked skin, and even hair loss on the less. Your toenails may also be slower to grow with poor blood circulation in the feet. Men may even suffer from erectile dysfunction when experiencing inadequate blood flow to their feet.

When they are persistent, any of these symptoms can be considered serious. Podiatrists in Ocala, FL at Advanced Podiatry Specialists Specialists can examine you, determine the root cause of your symptoms and provide the appropriate treatment options to give you some relief.

What Can Cause Poor Circulation in the Feet?

If you notice any of the symptoms of poor circulation in your feet, podiatry services can help. A podiatrist can listen to your concerns, ask you questions, review your overall health, and diagnose your condition. Certain conditions can cause poor blood circulation in the feet, including the following:

• Diabetes: Diabetes often causes circulation problems because of sugar buildup in the blood vessels. It can also cause inflammation that affects circulation. If circulatory problems go ignored, it can result in gangrene and amputation.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): PAD causes narrower and hardened arteries, which can lead to circulation problems and even heart attack or stroke without prompt treatment.
• Blood clots: Blood clots in the legs can lead to circulation problems in the feet. Podiatry specialists can help diagnose and treat this issue before it leads to pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke.
• Obesity: Being obese can cause circulation problems in the feet. With excess weight to carry around, the feet can go numb as blood flow is insufficient. This could lead to even more health problems.
• High blood pressure: High blood pressure can lead to atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty material and plaque in the arteries, which can cause poor circulation in the feet.

What Can You Do?

While you wait for podiatry services as your appointment nears, there are steps you can take to try to alleviate your symptoms of poor circulation. Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Even if you have to sit for hours for your job, stand up every few minutes or at least once or twice every hour and move your body around. You might even be able to ask your supervisor if your workstation can be modified so that you can stand while working.

Exercising can help improve the blood circulation in your feet. Incorporating even low-impact physical activity can get your blood flowing and significantly improve your health. Avoiding smoking and lowering your salt intake while increasing your water intake can also help. If you are overweight, losing weight can help your circulation as well.

If you need podiatrists in Ocala, FL to examine you for poor blood circulation in your feet, contact Advanced Podiatry Specialists Specialists at your earliest convenience.