If you have poor circulation, it’s likely that it affects your whole body. But, we typically notice it more in our extremities, like the fingers and toes. It can even cause the toenails to turn blue. Poor circulation is simply a lack of blood flow to parts of the body.
Some of the common symptoms of insufficient blood flow include:
- Tingling
- Muscle cramps
- Discolored skin on the feet and toes
- Cold feet and toes
Different factors can affect circulation in your body. In this article, we’ll discuss what might be causing poor circulation in your feet and toes. Then, we’ll go over some ways that will enable you to take better care of your feet and toenails at home.
Once you improve circulation, you’ll notice a difference in how your toes feel. Your comfort level goes up, so you won’t have to worry about the aches and pains associated with a lack of blood flow. An effective way to improve circulation and realign your joints is with the YogaToes Gel Toe Stretcher and Separator. You can find out more about this product in an in-depth review by clicking on the link.
Table of Contents:
What Causes Poor Circulation in the Feet & Toes?
Bad circulation is often either caused by lifestyle choices or underlying health conditions. Unfortunately, both can put you at a risk of bigger problems. If you’re experiencing any symptoms that would suggest a lack of proper blood flow to your toes, it’s important to determine the cause. The sooner you discover what might be causing the problem, the sooner you can find a solution.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Do you have a job that requires you to sit for extended periods of time? Or, do you find yourself doing a lot of lounging in your free time? Problems with circulation could be due to a sedentary lifestyle. It makes it difficult to pump blood throughout the whole body efficiently. This also reduces the amount of oxygen your body can take in. Mainly, being sedentary causes your body to have to work harder to perform simple functions.
Sitting too much can cause blood to pool around your ankles, which can lead to swelling. If it’s not properly flowing to the toes, you’ll start to feel it. Do your toes often feel cold? Do your feet fall asleep often when you’re sitting? These can be warning signs that your blood isn’t getting enough movement throughout the day.
Keep in mind that standing for long periods of time (multiple hours a day) can be just as bad for circulation. It’s important to find a happy medium with how much you’re using your feet.
Poor Lifestyle Choices
Things like excessive smoking, an improper diet, and lack of exercise can also lead to a lack of blood flow to the body. There are so many health concerns associated with these lifestyle choices. But, if you know you’re struggling with any of them and have bad circulation, it’s relatively safe to make a connection.
Health Conditions
Some common health conditions associated with bad circulation include:
- Diabetes
- Blood clots
- Varicose veins
- Peripheral artery disease
- Obesity
If you don’t think lifestyle plays a factor in what’s causing your toes to have poor circulation, it may be an underlying health issue. If not properly treated, bad circulation can lead to more serious health concerns.
How to Improve Blood Flow to the Feet & Toes Naturally
Some of the things you can do to improve circulation may seem obvious, based on what’s causing the problem. Additionally, there are ways to increase blood flow throughout your whole body. Once you’re able to do that, you’ll likely notice a large improvement in how your toes feel.
One of the easiest things you can do to get started is to change your position regularly. This can be especially effective if you work long hours in a job that either requires you to sit or stand all day. Use a few of the following tips to create more activity throughout your day. They can help to increase circulation, and get rid of cramping and pain in your toes:
Take Breaks Regularly to Move Your Legs
This can include something as big as taking a walk, or something as minimal as shaking out your arms and legs every couple hours.
Wear Comfortable & Well-Fitted Shoes
This is especially important if you’re on your feet quite a bit during the day. If you work in a professional setting, bring comfortable shoes to change into during the day.
Additionally, don’t wear restrictive clothing. Everything from socks that are too tight to belts and undergarments can restrict blood flow to your toes.
Drink More Water
Drinking plenty of water has so many incredible health benefits. It’s also great for circulation. It helps to hydrate your body’s cells and get rid of waste. Whether you’re on your feet all day or sitting, water will flush out your system.
Try Exercising More Often
Anything from a walk around the block to a pickup game of basketball can be extremely beneficial. Exercise is especially important if you spend most of your days sitting in one spot. Pick something that you enjoy doing so you’ll stick with it regularly.
Take Yoga Classes
Though many consider it a type of exercise, if you aren’t keen on cardiovascular activity, try yoga. Yoga has many health benefits, as it’s usually combined with controlled breathing and stretching.
It is easy on your body, and you’re able to move into certain positions long enough to help increase blood flow all over your body.
Change Your Lifestyle
If you need to make lifestyle changes for circulation and other health issues, the advice is obvious. Give up smoking, eat better, etc. These might seem like no-brainer solutions, but they can make a big difference.
Take Proper Care of the Feet
They often get ignored as we tend to focus on other areas of our body. Be sure to check your feet every day for things like toe injuries or damage to any nails. If you pay more attention to your feet, you’re likely to notice circulation issues sooner.
Start Using Circulation Boosters & Foot Massagers
Unfortunately, our lifestyles have made improper circulation in the toes a bigger problem than ever. This is mostly due to being sedentary. What has developed from this growing problem, however, is a rise in effective solutions.
How Do Circulation Boosters Work?
Foot circulation boosters are designed specifically to stimulate the nerves within your feet. They do this through waveforms and pulses. The great part about these circulation boosters is that they feature different intensity levels. People who have severe symptoms of poor circulation may need more features and higher stimulation.
The best circulation machines use pulsating patterns. If your feet get used to a pattern for too long, the circulation-boosting effect lessens. Different patterns keep things from getting complacent. That encourages constant, healthy blood flow.
How do Foot Massagers Help with Circulation?
Foot massagers are for more than just relaxation at home. They work slightly differently than circulation boosters. However, they do apply pressure to the bottom of your feet. This helps to stimulate your nerves just like the circulation machine.
Most at-home massagers require you to set your feet flat on a vibrating pad. Some of the best foot massagers provide therapeutic benefits and can change patterns. Again, this will help to ensure consistent blood flow, since your body won’t get used to one constant vibrating motion.
If you’re not ready to purchase an at-home massager, do things to assist to your feet. Try soaking them in a foot spa with some Epsom salts. You can then give your feet and toes a massage with your hands. Not only is this a relaxing experience, but you know which toes may be suffering more. You can focus kneading into those toes and reach pressure points to help bring back better blood flow.
Making Lifestyle Changes to Improve Foot Circulation
Poor circulation can cause health concerns. From exhaustion and lack of appetite to weak nails and even digestive issues, it’s important to treat it as quickly as possible. When it comes to bad circulation in your toes, you’ll likely notice it through pain or a cold/numb feeling.
The good news is that some simple changes can help to boost circulation. Take a look at some of the lifestyle choices listed in this article. If any of them reflect your situation, do what you can to make the necessary changes.
If you have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes, it could be causing a lack of significant blood flow to your toes. Treating the illness is the best thing you can do if you have a medical condition. When you take the proper treatment steps, the symptoms associated with it are likely to fade.
Whether you choose to get more exercise, change your work environment, or invest in the Revitive Circulation Booster, taking proper care of your feet can lead to healthy blood flow. When you start treatment, your toes won’t be the only things that benefit. Your entire body’s circulation can become improved. When your overall circulation is boosted, you’ll notice the disappearance of negative symptoms.
