Cold hands, warm heart
Poor circulation is a common problem, particularly among women but also among men.
- Does someone you care for look pale
- Do they have a sluggish digestive system
- Do they suffer from constipation
- Do they often feel drained of energy
- Are their feet and hands feel cold when the rest of them is warm
Poor circulation may be a symptom of a damaged heart muscle or hardening of the arteries. These conditions prevent blood from flowing easily through the blood vessels and specifically those in the hands and feet.
If you are concerned that someone elderly you care for has several of the above symptoms it is wise to contact your doctor. They can take blood test to test for high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol which may be furring up their arteries.
Exercise is useful to minimise the risk of developing chilblains and keep the blood circulating effectively. This may be difficult to nigh on impossible for someone elderly and from a chair a few leg raises and arm exercises may be of value. There are also electronic circulation boosters available now which work by simply massaging the soles of your feet.
Foods to eat to improve your circulation include
- chili
- garlic
- ginger
- mustard
- bulgar wheat
Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of blood flow as the blood thickens making it harder to be pumped around.
There are effective circulation boosters on the market that can help and one of my gentlemen home help clients uses one. He used to have blue lips as a result of poor circulation and from using the booster they are normal colour now.
