Question How can I improve blood circulation in my legs?
My right leg tends to swell, and I have been told to wear contention stockings, but what exercice and diet tips can I use as well? Thanks. I don' t want to lose weight, I weigh 95 pounds! What I want is to know which foods and exercices might help.

Best Answer The most important treatment for poor leg circulation is to address the risk factors: Avoid cigarette smoking. Keep your blood pressure under control. Keep your cholesterol levels in the healthy range. Exercise on a regular and frequent basis. Consider special exercise equipment, products and shoe wear that promotes circulation, such as a bed wedge or leg wedge. Keep moving – avoid staying immobile for long periods of time. Keep your feet and extremities warm. Wear graduated compression hosiery and socks that help stimulate circulation. Leading a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet play a key role in improving your blood circulation. By doing this it can help reduce the risk of circulatory disorders. As you are aware, what we eat can greatly affect our health. A healthy, balanced diet is one of the basic foundations of general well being. There are a number of foods you can include in your diet to help improve your circulation. For example: Decreasing proteins and saturated fats (found in red meat, cheese and cream); Increasing intake of phytoestrogens - found in Soya products, linseed, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and red clover; Vegetables that are particularly beneficial for the heart include broccoli; All types of fruit including blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries and plums; Foods rich in vitamins A, C and E; Garlic, Ginger, Cayenne, fennel, beetroot and watercress. All of the foods mentioned above can help stimulate the circulatory system. Good circulation ensures that your body can stay healthy, heal well, and properly function during daily activities.

Question What kind of doctor is one supposed to visit for blood circulation issues?
I think I have bad circulation in my legs, and I'm unsure what type of doctor I'm supposed to seek out. Does a general practitioner take care of such issues? If I stand for a while, my legs start to feel heavy and my legs turn pretty red around my knees. My legs and feet also fall asleep pretty easily. I'm a decently active person with a thin build if that helps clarify anything.

Best Answer Sorry to sound vague but it's hard to tell based on your question. What kind of symptoms are you enduring? Leg pain, coldness, pulseless, etc? For most health insurance you'll need a referral from a GP regardless if he/she thinks you should see a specialist. For "bad circulation", which isn't really a medical term, there isn't too much that can be done. Sometimes compression stockings can help. There are some medicines (Trental, Pletal) but many GPs aren't too comfortable with these meds. If you are sent to a specialist you would go to a vascular surgeon. Don't be scared by the word "surgeon" b/c they only operate if they need to do it. They are the experts on circulation and can order the necessary diagnostic tests (ABI, etc) to further clarify any circulatory disease you may have. Hope that helped, I tried not to be overly technical.