Senior Tips: How to Improve Circulation
As you age, maintaining your health is vital to maintaining your social life, your ability to exercise and your ability to manage daily tasks. Good circulation is an important part of helping your body stay strong and healthy. A strong circulatory system ensures blood and oxygen continuously flow through the body and support each organ in functioning properly. Wounds heal more quickly, your heart stays healthy, your brain stays sharp and your complexion remains rosy and healthy.
Poor circulation is actually a common condition among seniors and can make many underlying health conditions worse. Symptoms of poor circulation include:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain and muscle cramping
- Changes in skin color
- Cold feet and hands
- Swelling in the lower extremities
- Digestive issues
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
If you have these symptoms, it is advisable to speak with your physician. If you have been diagnosed with poor circulation, it is important to understand what the next steps look like and how you can help to improve your condition.
Can Blood Circulation Be Improved?
During this time when flu, colds and COVID-19 are prevalent, it is very important to take care of your health. If you have poor circulation, you may be wondering, “Can blood circulation be improved?” And luckily, yes, there are ways you can improve the condition. From nutrition tips to exercise suggestions, there are plenty of outlets at your fingertips to help you to improve your circulation and live a healthy lifestyle.
For residents at senior living communities or assisted living facilities, like Bethany Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, there are a number of amenities designed to support an active, healthy lifestyle. Staying engaged with activities you enjoy and maintaining frequent communication with your healthcare team will help you to set goals for improving your physical fitness level and help you design a daily routine that supports those goals.
How to Improve Circulation
If you are living with poor circulation, it is likely that you are facing some issues with side effects, ranging from your feet falling asleep to fluid retention and low energy levels. If this sounds familiar, no matter the parts of the body where you are experiencing the symptoms, you likely have questions. How can I improve my upper body circulation? How do you improve blood circulation in the elderly?
Here are a few ideas to help get you started in improving your poor circulation:
- Add exercise to your day
- Drink a lot of water or green tea
- Indulge in massage
- Minimize stress in your day
- Dry brush your skin each day
- Keep your legs elevated
- Reduce alcohol use
- Stretch daily
All of these suggestions are great places to start if you are wondering how to improve circulation. If you are looking for a slow start to making a life change, simply taking a walk daily can make a positive difference if you are fighting circulation issues.
Finding Fun and Support
From wondering how to improve circulation to working to recover from various illnesses or surgery, Bethany Rehabilitation and Health Care Center is the ideal place to relax, recover and gain your tools for success. We offer skilled nursing programs, exercise groups, recreational programs and a variety of therapies to help support your goals.
Contact Bethany Rehabilitation today to schedule a tour and learn more about our facility and our culture.