How Serious is Poor Circulation in Your Feet?

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At Texas Foot Specialists, we know that oftentimes “poor circulation” is seen as a minor senior citizen problem that might explain why Grandma always has cold feet. In reality, however, poor circulation can be the sign of a serious health problem that can affect adults at any age. Poor circulation is often first detected in your feet because that’s the destination furthest from the heart that blood has to travel. Some symptoms that may be signs of poor circulation include:

  • Tingling or burning sensations

  • Numbness

  • Pain or cramps in toes, feet, or lower legs

  • Hair loss on toes and legs

  • Skin that has a blue or white appearance

  • Cuts or wounds that are taking a long time to heal

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, you need to make an appointment at our Sugar Land 281-242-4448, Pasadena 281-991-0600 or Houston 713-664-6677 offices for our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum, to examine your feet. Poor circulation is associated with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, hypertension, and other serious medical problems that require immediate attention.

Risk Factors

Although there are several possible underlying causes of poor circulation, there are some common risk factors that elevate your chances of experiencing this type of condition. These include:

  • Sedentary lifestyle

  • High cholesterol

  • Smoking

  • High blood pressure

  • Being overweight

The good news is that these factors can all be altered by making healthier lifestyle choices.

Improving Your Circulation

Once the foot doctor determines the cause of your poor circulation, he will prescribe the right treatment for dealing with it, which may include consulting with specialists in other areas of medicine. In addition to treating the underlying causes, however, there are a number of ways that you can try to improve circulation, including:

  • Increase your physical activity—even adding another couple of thousand steps each day by getting off the bus one stop early or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will help

  • Stop smoking—smoking decreases your circulation

  • Wear compression socks

  • Massage your feet to stimulate circulation

If you have concerns about poor circulation in your feet, contact us today.Bottom of Form