Symptoms of Poor Circulation In this article, we will focus on the symptoms of poor circulation and when you should seek medical help. Signs of Poor Circulation 1. Varicose Veins If the valves in the veins of the legs are damaged, your blood will find it difficult to get back to the heart. This results in engorged veins and will eventually cause varicosities in the legs. Varicose veins are more common to those who regularly stand for long periods. 2. Painful Muscle Cramping The most common symptom of poor circulation is claudication, described as muscle discomfort or painful cramping, particularly in the legs. This is felt when you exercise or walk and usually disappears after resting your legs. The muscles that are most involved are the hips, thighs or calves. Claudication happens if there is a hindrance to the normal blood flow. For example, in atherosclerosis, where there is a buildup of cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels, the muscles cannot get enough blood during physical activity. The cramping pain is the muscle’s way of warning you that it is not getting enough blood during exercise to meet its increased demand. 3. Numbness or Weakness Reduced blood flow to different body parts may cause slow and irreversible damage to the nerves, which may be felt as tingling, numbness or weakness in that area. This is particularly alarming because having numbness on the extremities decreases your skin’s sensitivity to pain. As a result, there may be instances where your skin has already been damaged or wounded, but you cannot feel it. 4. Temperature Differences in the Extremities Poor circulation can lead to fluctuations in your skin’s temperature regulation. For example, reduced blood flow to your hands or feet may make them colder than the other parts of your body. To assess the temperature of your skin, you can use the back of your hands for a more accurate assessment. 5. Wounds That Do Not Heal or Heal Slowly Wounds heal by the different components and cells delivered through the bloodstream to the affected area. When blood flow is compromised, the healing process takes much longer and may even lead to infections. Even the slightest break in the skin may lead to catastrophic changes that could lead to amputation, especially in people with diabetes. 6. Change of Skin Color When there is insufficient blood flow, the skin may appear pale or blue (cyanosis). The change of color in the skin indicates that the oxygen-rich blood is unable to reach those tissues. The commonly affected body parts that may have this symptom are the toes, fingers, palms, soles and lips. [youmaylike] 7. Poor Hair or Nail Growth Hair and nails need the nutrients in your body to keep them healthy. Nutrients are delivered to the hair and nails through the blood. Therefore, any blockage or hindrance of the normal circulation of blood may affect the growth of healthy hair and nails, which can lead to hair loss or poor nail growth. 8. Shiny Skin on Legs Shiny skin on the legs can indicate that the skin stretched due to excess fluids in the legs. Poor circulation can cause blood pooling in the legs, resulting in fluid leakage from the blood vessels to the surrounding tissues. In turn, the skin will stretch, giving it a shiny appearance. 9. Weak Pulses When blood flow is restricted, the usual, brisk pulses on the extremities become weaker. Doctors usually include this in their physical examination to rule out any peripheral arterial disease. 10. Erectile Dysfunction in Men The penis is made up mostly of blood vessels. Penile erection happens because the arteries of the penis are filled up with blood to elongate and stiffen the organ. When there is poor circulation, blood cannot fill up the blood vessels in the penis. Most cases of impotence are a complication primarily of the arterial system. What is Poor Circulation? Poor circulation is not a condition in itself, but having any of its symptoms may indicate more serious conditions, such as: Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Uncontrolled diabetes. Blood clots. Atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits in the vessels). Heart conditions. Having poor circulation may not be apparent initially. Still, whether you experience symptoms or not, it is important to be aware of them early on to help detect the underlying cause. For example, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are all factors that increase the likelihood of a person experiencing poor circulation symptoms. In Review The symptoms of poor circulation may vary for each person. In general, conditions that cause poor circulation are easier to treat when your doctor detects it early. If you experience any of these symptoms and suspect that it may be caused by a dysfunction in your normal blood circulation, it is essential that you see your doctor for assessment and treatment right away.
Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
Contrary to popular belief, our bodies do not stop growing once we exit our pubescent years. Even as adults, our bodies grow in more ways than one. Sure, the growth hormone our body creates doesn’t make us grow taller, but it allows us to build our muscles and helps the body collect fat. It also contributes to healthy brain function. Sometimes, growth hormone deficiency in adults can happen.
This growth hormone is secreted by our pituitary gland and released directly into our blood. From there, it is transported to all corners of the body. This process continues throughout our lives and is an essential component of any person’s healthy body function. That’s why a growth hormone deficiency in adults can be reasonably alarming and should be dealt with promptly.
Is There Any Way to Increase Hormone Levels Naturally?
To put it simply, no. As we grow older, our body functions level off and work at a steady pace. If your body does not create any hormones, it requires more than a basic food cleanse to get its levels up.
Nevertheless, some foods can improve your hormone levels if you take them regularly with your treatment. Here’s a shortlist you should include in your diet:
1. Melatonin-Rich Foods
This includes cherries, goji berries, eggs, milk, fish, nuts and raspberries. Melatonin-rich foods improve growth hormone levels by providing essential nutrients, such as vitamin D and more.
2. Pineapple
Increasing your hormone levels is a job for multiple characters. In this case, this duty falls on other hormones to increase your body’s growth hormone levels. Pineapples provide the body with one essential hormone, serotonin, which relaxes you and allows your body to create growth hormones.
3. Proteins
Proteins are generally crucial for your overall health. In terms of growth hormone production, proteins, such as beef, contribute a compound called synthesise L-orthinine, which raises your hormone levels way over baseline levels.
4. Vegan Options
That’s right; nothing works better than dependable soybeans if you want to improve your growth hormones quickly. Soybeans provide an amino acid called L-arginine that works quickly to increase your growth hormone levels.
A Note on Growth Hormone Production
Despite all these details, there is only one thing that truly works magic on your growth hormone levels, and that is sleep. Our body releases growth hormones during sleep, particularly in the early hours of the night.
So, if your body is aching all over and feeling stiff and tired, a good night’s sleep might just be what the doctor ordered.
Determining Growth Hormone Deficiency
A deficiency in growth hormone production dramatically affects your health and well-being in more ways than one. Remember, every component of your body is interconnected. If there is a severe deficiency, this will present in your physical and mental state. Some symptoms you may experience include:
- Less muscle mass.
- Less stamina and ability to exercise without resting.
- Anxiety and depression.
- Reduced sexual function.
- Fatigue.
- Higher levels of fat around the stomach area.
- Sensitivity to cold and heat.
- A feeling of isolation from people.
- Decreased bone density and susceptibility to bone fractures.
- Changes in blood cholesterol.
- Higher than normal levels in low-density lipoproteins.
- High triglyceride levels.
Children Can Be Affected Too
A lack of growth hormones is not necessarily limited to adults. Even children can experience a decrease in growth hormone production. If there is any damage to the pituitary gland through trauma or tumor, that can impact your hormone levels.
Diagnosing Growth Hormone Deficiency
Typically, if you experience symptoms related to growth hormone therapy, your first step should be to go to the doctor.
Your doctor may recommend you to an endocrinologist to confirm the prognosis. They may order an MRI to get an accurate reading.
Once that is done, that is when your doctor may diagnose you with growth hormone deficiency and prescribe further tests to determine how advanced your condition is.
Treating Growth Hormone Deficiency
Once the doctor confirms a growth hormone deficiency, they will form a treatment plan. They may prescribe you a daily dose to get your growth hormones on a stable level. This is generally done through hormone injections. Once the course is complete, the patient must attend a monitoring and blood test to see whether the injections work.
Doctors usually do not prescribe injections that may take your growth hormone levels above the average level. However, if you begin experiencing swelling, joint or muscle pain, numbness and general pain in your hands from carpal tunnel syndrome, tell your doctor straight away so they can lower your dosage.
Conclusion
Remember that our bodies experience a range of common symptoms, so you might mistake your growth hormone deficiency for something else. Your best chance is to get a doctor’s appointment and get a check-up done. Only then will you be able to correct your body’s hormone levels and live life as fully as you want.