Do you tend to get cold hands and feet when winter comes? "Six Simple Tips" to Promote Peripheral Blood Circulation
Do your hands and feet feel cold and your face looks pale when winter comes? Is poor circulation the main reason?
In winter, your hands and feet tend to become cold and your face becomes pale. Maybe it’s not just the weather, but also related to poor blood circulation? Guidelines published by the American medical institution “Cleveland Clinic” indicate that poor blood circulation is more likely to occur in people over 40 years old, overweight, and those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In addition, poor blood circulation is also related to the body’s poor function of regulating body temperature.
However, poor circulation is not the only cause of cold hands and feet. “Cleveland Clinic” also stated that suffering from “Raynaud’s disease” (Raynaud’s disease), anemia, diabetes, arterial disease, smoking, vitamin B12 deficiency, and long-term exposure to cold environments may also be potential factors for cold hands and feet. Cold hands and feet may also be accompanied by excessive weakness, pale skin, or chest tightness and chest pain.
Why are women more likely to have cold hands and feet? Analysis by Chinese medicine practitioners: “Cold” diet may be the culprit
As for why women have cold hands and feet more commonly than men? In an exclusive interview with “healthorn”, Dr. Guo Dawei, the chief director of Fuyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic Yunlin General Hospital, mentioned that daily eating habits and exercise levels may be potential factors for Taiwanese women’s cold hands and feet. For example, eating lettuce salad before waking up, or drinking hand-shaken drinks or eating melons and fruits are more likely to cause physical weakness and coldness.
In addition, Chinese medicine doctor Guo Dawei emphasized that if you engage in static activities most of the time and are in a sedentary state without exercise, it may also be a major culprit of physical weakness and coldness, and even affect a woman’s fertility function. However, cold body constitution is related to basal body temperature, and the condition of each man and woman is different. It is recommended that if the condition of cold hands and feet cannot be improved immediately, you should seek a professional doctor’s diagnosis for treatment and relief.
Yoga and taking a walk after a meal can all help! Simple “6 Things” to Promote Peripheral Blood Circulation
In addition to seeking medical treatment to clarify their symptoms, can people improve their living habits to relieve cold hands and feet, or even improve overall blood circulation? According to relevant research, the following 6 measures may be able to significantly improve the body’s blood circulation and help transport oxygen and nutrients to peripheral blood vessels. Those who feel that their hands and feet are often cold or have poor blood circulation may wish to refer to:
Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight helps promote good blood circulation. On the other hand, being overweight or having a high BMI may be detrimental to blood circulation. A study in the “International Journal of Cardiology” pointed out that weight loss can increase the concentration of “adiponectin” in the body, which can help improve vascular function in overweight women.
Make time for walking and jogging. “Circulation” shows that regular cardiorespiratory exercise, such as jogging, can keep the circulatory system healthy. Whether it is a light brisk walk or a competitive jog, or even the simplest walk after a meal, it can increase vasodilation; it can also ensure smooth blood circulation, leading to better physical strength, better sleep quality, increased muscle oxygen uptake, etc. benefit.
Practice yoga regularly. Research in the “European Journal of Preventive Cardiology” shows that yoga involves bending and extending the body, and various movements are beneficial to blood circulation and metabolism. Among them, the “Downward Dog” movement places the buttocks and heart above the head to increase blood flow to the head. It is an action that beginners can try.
Eat oily fish. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), oily fish such as salmon, sardines, or mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are thought to promote cardiovascular health and improve blood circulation. For those on a vegan diet, kale has a certain dose of Omega-3 and can be enjoyed with other foods.
Drink more tea. Research also published in “Circulation” pointed out that black tea and green tea are rich in antioxidants, which can promote cardiovascular health and improve blood circulation. In addition, drinking tea may reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease. It is speculated that the “flavonoids” in tea are related to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.
Eat more iron-rich foods. Iron is an indispensable mineral in the human circulatory system and one of the main sources of “heme”. “International Journal of Preventive Medicine” mentioned that iron plays an important role in producing red blood cells and transporting oxygen in the body, so you can consume iron-rich foods in moderation, such as lean red meat, spinach, red cabbage, and edamame.
Finally, “Cleveland Clinic” reminds the public that people with poor blood circulation should avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption to prevent blood vessel obstruction, causing atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, pulmonary embolism and other diseases. If you feel cold hands and feet, excessive weakness, pale skin, or chest tightness and chest pain, it is recommended to seek medical treatment immediately to avoid worsening of the condition and leading to serious cardiovascular damage.
Source:
Poor Circulation - Cleveland Clinic
Exercise and Cardiovascular Health
Effect of weight loss on coronary circulation and adiponectin levels in obese women
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