Circulatory disorders are usually the result of calcified arteries and can be life-threatening. In the worst case, there is a risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Find out which physical signs you can use to recognize circulatory disorders and which risk factors promote arteriosclerosis.
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What are circulatory disorders?
A circulatory disorder is an arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) in which the blood vessels are no longer permeable enough to allow blood to pass through. Due to the circulatory disorders, the oxygen supply to the muscles in the extremities deteriorates. Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) usually causes the circulatory disorder. The arteries in the legs are usually affected, sometimes in the arms.
If there is a permanent shortage of supply, functional restrictions and organ damage can occur. In severe cases, the body tissue cut off from the blood flow can die. Since arteriosclerosis can affect any blood vessel, circulatory disorders can also occur in the heart muscles and cerebral arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke . In the case of circulatory disorders, a distinction is made between one-stage and multi-stage diseases. This means that the circulatory disorder can only affect one section of the vessel, for example, or there can be several arterial occlusions.
7 signs of circulatory disorders
A circulatory disorder can be divided into four stages . While there are no symptoms in the first stage, pain is noticeable in stage II. Due to the narrowing, the muscles are no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen. In stage III, the pain also occurs at rest. In stage IV, the tissue dies due to the lack of oxygen supply.
Other typical signs of circulatory disorders are
- Coldness and pallor of the affected limb
- cold limbs
- weak pulse
- numbness
- delayed wound healing and muscle weakness
- blue discolored fingertips and toes.
A stroke is a sudden disruption of blood flow to the brain. A stroke manifests itself through neurological disorders and failures. These include symptoms such as feelings of paralysis and numbness or sudden weakness.
Treatment of circulatory disorders
If symptoms persist and recur, you should see a doctor to rule out serious causes. Acute circulatory disorders are a medical emergency and should be treated immediately. In order to determine whether your circulatory disorders are concerned, the blood pressure is measured in the extremities on both sides of the body. A blood test will check your values for coagulation factors, enzymes, cholesterol and blood sugar. A double sonography (ultrasound) provides information about the direction and speed of your blood flow. An aniography can show diseased blood vessels in the x-ray. The vascular occlusion can be surgically removed or treated with medication. Blood-thinning drugs clear the blood vessels of the clot. Painkillers such as ibuprofen can be taken to relieve the symptoms. Prostaglandins and plasma expanders stimulate blood circulation. In order to stimulate the oxygen supply in the poorly supplied blood vessels, light physical exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling is advisable.
>> You can find more helpful advice in “The Nutrition Docs – Strong Heart: The Best Nutritional Strategies for High Blood Pressure, Heart Failure, Arteriosclerosis and Co. ” Matthew Riedl.
Causes of circulatory disorders
Certain risk factors can promote arteriosclerosis and thus also a circulatory disorder . These include smoking, an unhealthy diet that increases your cholesterol levels, being overweight and lack of exercise. Diseases such as diabetes mellitus , high blood pressure, age, gender, medication intake and genetic predisposition also play a decisive role.
A vascular occlusion can also be caused by a blood clot, detached plaque, or a piece of tissue. Such an embolism can be the result of circulatory disorders, a reduced blood flow rate or a changed composition of the blood. An acute occlusion in the cerebral artery, for example, can cause a stroke.
prevent circulatory disorders
In order to prevent circulatory disorders in the best possible way, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, try to circumvent the above risk factors. A balanced diet rich in vitamins protects your blood vessels. In particular, avoid foods with trans fats, which are mainly found in baked goods, fast food, ready meals and animal products such as sausage. Regular exercise in the form of endurance sports also keeps your arteries elastic, promotes blood circulation and reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis. Jogging, swimming or cycling have a particularly positive effect on the health of your blood vessels.
More exciting articles about circulatory disorders:
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