Poor Foot Circulation - The Complete Guide

Poor foot circulation is as confusing as it is uncomfortable.

That’s because poor circulation itself isn’t a disease; it’s a complex symptom that could point to any number of ailments. While there are a number of ways to treat the discomfort of poor circulation, you’re often still left wondering what the root cause of the pain is to begin with.

We know how tough it is to get circulation back in your toes & because poor circulation is such a complicated symptom, we've broken down everything you need to know about bad feet circulation problems, what it feels like, and what you can do about it.

What is Poor Foot Circulation?

To put it simply, poor foot circulation is when is your body’s incapable of efficiently carrying blood your feet. There are several things that can contribute to poor circulation, but it mainly boils down to blockages in your arteries.

Symptoms of Poor Foot Circulation

It can be hard to identify foot circulation problems at first. Many of the warning signs can seem like run-of-the-mill aches you experience with age. They might even seem like normal pains from being overly active, or from when your foot falls asleep. The point is, some of these symptoms can seem perfectly normal, so it’s crucial to be aware of what you’re feeling, and always discuss with your doctor.

It’s important to know what signs to look for so you can seek treatment and relief sooner. If you’re worried about the circulation in your feet, here are things to feel for:

Poor Foot Circulation Symptoms You Can Feel:

The best way to identify a circulatory problem is to get in touch with your body. Does anything feel out of the ordinary? If you often experience any of these issues in your feet or legs, it may be due to there being no blood circulation in the foot:

• Near constant coldness in your feet, often severe (or even icy)
• Numbness in your extremities
• Uncomfortable or painful cramping in your feet or legs, whether you’ve been active or inactive
• Frequent tingly feelings in your feet or legs, similar to when a limb falls asleep
• Not being able to walk very far without feeling pain in your calves

These symptoms are uncomfortable, and in the case of poor circulation, often persistent. If you can’t seem to escape the pain, you may have poor foot circulation.

Poor Foot Circulation Symptoms You Can See:

Of course, being able to feel the problem isn’t your only option. There are also physical signs you should be on the lookout for:

• Discoloration in your toes. This might mean your toes are tinged blue, red, or purple. They may even look slightly blistered. Think about a time when you’ve gone outside for too long in the cold without your gloves on. If your toes look like that, they may not be getting enough blood.

• Hair loss on your legs and feet due to low blood flow

• Dry skin, even if you drink plenty of water

• Swelling in the feet

These can be key clues your body is using to warn you of foot circulation problems. Be aware of what your body is telling you and be attentive to its needs. These aren’t issues you’ll want to ignore, even if they aren’t as severe.

Causes of Poor Foot Circulation

Dry, cracked, skin present on the bottom of feet may be an indicator of poor foot circulation (Image Reference).

As stated earlier, cold, tingly feet and bad foot circulation isn’t a disease you can cure. It’s often a symptom of another disease entirely. This could be due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or diabetes. No matter the cause, there are influencing factors both inside the body and outside that could contribute to your symptoms.

Outside Factors that Cause Foot Circulation Problems

Outside factors refer to behaviors and habits you can avoid to help cut down on your symptoms. While avoiding these actions alone isn’t a cure, they can certainly help reduce some of the discomfort that comes along with these symptoms.

• Poor diet
• Sitting or standing for long periods of time without moving (yes, the person standing in one place is just as susceptible as the sedentary couch-potato)
• Smoking
• Lack of regular activity, including exercise

Health Conditions Related to Foot Circulation Problems

There are also things that can go wrong inside our bodies that cause pain, coldness, and tingling. It’s scary to think about, but it’s better being able to identify these issues. The earlier they’re spotted, the earlier you can seek treatment.

How to Diagnose Poor Foot Circulation

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms mentioned here, your best course of action is to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor. While knowing the signs of poor foot circulation can help you figure out some at-home remedies, a doctor’s diagnosis can help with more lasting relief.

Types of Tests

Your doctor will likely perform a series of tests to help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms. This could include tests like:

• A standard physical. This could be used to find out exactly where and why you’re feeling pain, as well is identifying any sources of swelling.

• Blood tests can be especially beneficial since they can look for diseases in the blood, test for high sugar levels which would point toward diabetes, or look for signs of blood clots.

• Ultrasounds can take a closer look inside the body to identify blockages.

• Blood pressure tests, particularly on the legs, can be used to measure circulation.

How to Improve Foot Circulation

Even while you and your doctor work to identify the cause of your symptoms, you can still take steps to naturally alleviate the pain and discomfort of, cold, aching legs, toes, & feet.

You can start by making certain lifestyle changes that will help avoid these painful episodes altogether. These changes may not be easy for everyone, but they will help reduce the amount of pain you encounter from a lack of blood flow. These can include:

Poor Foot Circulation Treatment Ideas:

Elevating legs above the heart while resting helps to facilitate blood flow and improve foot circulation (Image Reference).

You still have options, even if you’re already experiencing the symptoms. There are several ways you can work to improve foot circulation and help cut down on the pain you’re experiencing:

Reduce Pain & Improve Poor Foot Circulation 

Having poor circulation in your feet can range from a minor problem to a debilitating and painful condition. If you have poor circulation or foot pain, make sure to talk to your doctor. Remember, poor circulation isn’t a condition all on its own; it’s a complicated symptom that likely points to another disease or condition.

You can find ways to lessen your foot pain and discomfort, but you’ll also want to treat the underlying cause of the poor circulation itself. Make sure to speak to your doctor about your symptoms, and in the meantime, keep your feet healthy by taking the suggestions we’ve recommended here.