Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a common cause of poor blood circulation.

If the DVT breaks free, it can cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): DVT is a blood clot that forms deep in the body, often in the leg, which inhibits or blocks blood flow to the feet.

It can also cause neuropathy, a separate condition with similar symptoms to circulation problems in feet.

Diabetes: Diabetes can cause swelling, hypertension, and impaired circulation in the feet.

Obesity: Being overweight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood and also puts more weight on the feet, which may lead to circulation issues.

So seniors who aren't able to move around as much are at risk for circulation problems.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Proper blood flow requires movement to keep the heart healthy and pumping smoothly.

Age: Unfortunately, there is some degree of circulatory impairment that is unavoidable with age due to baroreceptors becoming less sensitive and the aorta becoming thicker and less agile, which affects blood pressure.

Causes of Poor Foot Circulationīut what causes poor circulation? Some seniors experience inadequate blood flow in their feet due to lifestyle, while others suffer from disease, so treatment for poor circulation in feet depends on the cause. Interrupted blood flow also impairs healing and causes fatigue and pain, so seniors with these signs of poor circulation should seek a diagnosis and treatment from a medical professional. Even a tiny blockage can compromise a major organ, including the heart, brain, or lungs. Circulatory problems can create anything from a minor inconveniences to life-threatening conditions if left untreated. It’s important to seek medical attention if poor circulation symptoms appear and persist.

Cessation of hair growth on ankles or feet.

Here are a few poor circulation symptoms you or your loved ones might notice if circulation is impaired. While it's normal for feet to feel a little colder in winter or achy after long periods of standing, pay attention to lingering or recurring symptoms, particularly in seniors with risk factors like diabetes, obesity, and smoking.

Let’s review the causes and symptoms of poor circulation as well as tips to boost foot circulation. With proper care and treatment, your loved ones can avoid these preventable outcomes. Aging and cold weather amplify these symptoms, so it's particularly important to help seniors improve foot circulation in winter.

While this is an unpleasant symptom of impaired blood flow, there are also far more serious symptoms and complications that can occur when there is poor circulation to the feet, like blood clots, chronic pain, swelling, and immobility. Many people attribute cold feet to poor circulation.

Circulation issues