Blood circulation makes your mind and body thrive, but it doesn’t always flow as it should. Various health conditions could make your body struggle to get oxygen to your vital organs. These 10 benefits of increased blood circulation may encourage you to speak with your doctor and fix this issue before it becomes a significant health concern.
1. Additional Oxygen to Your Brain
Your brain never takes a break like the rest of your body does while you’re sleeping or relaxing. It’s constantly processing memories and directing your bodily functions, so everything becomes affected if it doesn’t get enough oxygen. When lifestyle changes or medications improve your circulation, you’ll immediately notice a difference because your brain can thrive again.
2. Improved Moisture Retention
Blood helps every part of your body, including your skin. You might not think about it often, but reduced circulation could cause dry skin problems. Washing your hands too often or living in a dry environment isn’t the only factor in keeping your skin from becoming itchy or splitting open around your knuckles.
Your skin cells won’t stay healthy if they don’t get the essential oxygen they need through your blood. Help it nourish your skin cells and promote their functionality by increasing your circulation with assistance from your doctor.
3. Strengthened Immune System
Red blood cells are vital for your health, but blood also contains white cells. They fight bacteria and illness to keep you from getting sick or help you recover. You might not think about them very often, but they’re always at work so you can live your best life.
Poor circulation prevents white blood cells from remaining strong enough to strengthen your immune system. Don’t wait until you’re sick during flu season to start enjoying this necessary benefit of circulation. Help yourself remain happy and healthy by improving your blood flow throughout the year.
4. Reduced Tingling in Extremities
If your body parts don’t get enough blood flow, it could affect your nervous system. Consider how your arm feels when you wake up after sleeping on it all night long. It’s tingly and uncomfortable, but it quickly returns to normal as blood flows through your veins again. Certain conditions can cause severe problems that feel similar but disrupt your lifestyle because they aren’t easily resolvable, like sleep-induced numbness.
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is one such issue that often stems from poor circulation. It compresses nerves and causes tingling in fingers and other extremities. Increased blood circulation reduces that sensation along with any prescribed TOS symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you think you might have this condition and need assistance with improving your blood flow.
5. Better Digestive Functionality
Your digestive system can make your life feel effortless or cause you to stay at home with stomach pain. It can’t process nutrients and break down waste if there’s less blood flow to your organs. Blood is like gas in the engine of your digestive system, so top it up regularly by improving your blood flow. You may suffer from extensive digestive problems if your circulation isn’t working as well as it should.
6. Reduced Risk of Diabetes
Plaque buildup in your veins and arteries could be the reason your blood circulation isn’t working well. Sometimes that buildup is an underlying symptom of undiagnosed diabetes, so make an appointment with your doctor if you think that might be a possible health concern.
Improved circulation reduces your risk of diabetes because it makes you proactive in monitoring your health and nutrition. Your blood sugar management and improved diet will cause less buildup and improve your odds of living without diabetes.
7. Continual Physical Improvement
Whether you’re an athlete or want to generally improve your physical endurance, strengthening your stamina is one of the best benefits of increased blood circulation. More blood flow sends more oxygen to your muscles when they need it the most, like during strength training exercises or moments of physical exertion.
Cardiovascular endurance relies on increased oxygen flow so your muscles can repair themselves after your workout. You’ll improve your gym routine and become stronger after that crucial repair process. Without enough oxygen circling through your blood, your physical fitness goals may not be possible.
8. Easier Waste Processing
Your kidneys continually process your blood. They remove any toxins and send the resulting urine to your bladder, but that’s difficult to do if they don’t get enough oxygen and blood flow. Without it, toxins will build up in your blood. You’ll begin to suffer from a chemical imbalance that leads to acute kidney failure and death.
Waste processing is one of the benefits of increased blood circulation because it directly supports every other bodily function. Chat with your primary care physician if you’re concerned about this effect of poor circulation and need help increasing your blood flow.
9. Routine Bowel Movements
When people become constipated, their medical advisors often recommend adding more physical exercise to their routine. Along with proper hydration and fiber intake, exercise gets your heart rate up and increases your blood flow. Additional blood to your digestive system helps it work properly and regulate bowel movements.
10. Less Daily Stress
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but there are a few ways to manage it. Besides self-care habits and adjusting your lifestyle, you can also improve your blood circulation. Your brain might experience a buildup in stress hormones because it isn’t at the top of its game.
Imagine finishing a stressful day with a casual walk down a nature trail or around your neighborhood. The slight physical activity immediately boosts your circulation and oxygenates your brain. It will monitor your hormone production more efficiently and decrease your stress by helping your blood easily reach your brain.
Improve Your Blood Circulation
Now that you’ve read about a few benefits of increased blood circulation, consider how these changes would improve your life. Your doctor will help you identify anything that’s decreasing your circulation and prescribe the best lifestyle changes, treatments or medications so you can enjoy these health benefits once again.
