3 Signs You Have Sluggish Blood Flow

Poor circulation has many causes, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and varicose veins. No matter what the reason, it's crucial that you understand the symptoms to catch the problem early on.

If you're having problems with your circulation, the Heart Clinic of Hammond team has the knowledge and experience to diagnose the issue quickly. As experienced cardiologists, Dr. Ghiath Mikdadi and Dr. Farid Zayed offer interventional services when you have poor circulation.

Understanding sluggish blood flow

Your body needs oxygenated blood for your organs to function correctly. Your heart pumps oxygenated blood as your lungs return deoxygenated blood from other areas of your body to your heart.

When your circulation is compromised, your heart either can't effectively pump blood to other areas of your body, or your veins aren't returning it efficiently.

Sluggish blood flow is due to various conditions, from vein problems to heart issues. Some common causes of poor circulation include the following:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Blood clots
• Atherosclerosis
• Diabetes

Varicose veins are another common cause of poor circulation, especially in your legs. These issues can lead to poor circulation, which causes uncomfortable symptoms if not treated.

Three significant signs of slow circulation

If your heart cannot effectively pump blood throughout your body, you may notice several uncomfortable signs and symptoms. Poor circulation leads to various problems, three of which include:

1. Leg swelling

One significant sign of poor circulation is swelling in your legs, feet, and ankles. Also known as edema, swelling happens because of an accumulation of fluid in the tissues in your legs.

You might have other symptoms with leg swelling, such as a heavy feeling, tight skin, or warmth around the leg swelling.

2. Cold feet or hands

Your feet and hands are the farthest parts of your body from your heart, significantly affected by poor circulation. Low amounts of blood flow to your hands and feet cause changes in temperature in your skin and nerve endings, leading to feeling cold in these areas.

3. Numbness or tingling

With poor circulation, numbness and tingling in your fingers, hands, toes, and feet are widespread. You may feel a pins and needles sensation due to a lack of blood flow to these areas.

What is the next step?

If you suspect you're having circulation problems, the first step is to make an appointment with our team as soon as possible. The symptoms are uncomfortable, and circulation issues often signal heart trouble.

At your appointment, Dr. Mikdadi and Dr. Zayed discuss your symptoms and when they started. They evaluate your extremities and listen to your heart and lungs.

We also ask about your medical and family history to determine your risk factors for heart disease and poor circulation. We may also send you an ultrasound, blood work, and stress test to better understand your health.

Your treatment depends on the cause of your circulation issue. For instance, if you have varicose veins, you may need specialized treatment to close off the affected veins to improve blood flow.

If poor circulation is due to blocked arteries, we offer coronary intervention treatments and cardiac catheterization to open the clogged vessels to improve blood flow throughout your body.

We offer a customized treatment plan that sometimes involves medications and other interventions to improve blood flow, decrease uncomfortable symptoms, and ensure your heart is healthy to improve your quality of life.

If you're suffering from circulation problems, don't hesitate to call Heart Clinic of Hammond today at 985-974-9278 or request an appointment online for a consultation at our Hammond or Amite, Louisiana office.