How is poor circulation diagnosed and what are the symptoms? I think I may have it.
2007-06-04 08:59:20 · 5 answers · asked by Keekla 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
I am 21 years old and yes, i am a smoker. Could the "poor circulation" be caused by a bad back maybe pinching some nerves? The thing is that when i am driving (and it doesn't have to be for a long period of time) my right foot starts hurting badly on the top of my foot...and then it will start going numb, to the point of where I need to adjust my seating to prevent further numbness. What is this?
2007-06-05 02:57:57 · update #1
They can do a venous doppler (ultrasound) test of the veins...
2007-06-04 13:56:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a physician I can tell you that the starting point is always the history and the only way to offer a good answer is to have as much information as possible from the patient (your age would be helpful). 'Poor circulation' is a vague term. There is both arterial and venous circulation. Generally when people ask about poor circulation they are asking about the arterial circulation in their hands and feet. Such a decrease in circulation is most often caused by narrowing of the arteries and is more commonly seen in smokers. Poor circulation in its most common sense does not produce symptoms until it is quite advanced. The United States Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend that people be routinely tested for peripheral arterial disease (the medical term for poor arterial circulation). Most physicians as part of a general physical examination, and certainly as part of the examination of a person with hypertension, heart disease, heart failure, or diabetes will example the pulses in the ankles and the feet. Typically these pulses will be felt to be diminished long before a person has symptoms. An example of symptoms would be pain in the calf muscle when walking a certain distance because there is inadequate circulation. It is now recognized that peripheral arterial disease is a coronary risk equivalent. This means that if a person is found to have peripheral arterial disease that they have or have the same risk as someone with established coronary artery disease. The problem that physicians have is if a person does not have symptoms, and if the pulses seem to be diminished - do we order more definitive testing? The US Preventive Services Task Force did not attempt to answer this question as they are concerned with screening only - not the question of whether to test when there are physical findings. In my own practice if I feel that an individual does indeed have diminished peripheral pulses on physical examination then I do favor testing. If you provide me with more specific information I may be able to be of more assistance. I wish you the best of health and may God bless.
2007-06-04 17:48:02 · answer #2 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A simple test you can do at home would be to press on your nail bed (nails in feet or hands) and let go. Normal circulation in a person would make the white under the nail bed into pink within 3 seconds. Anything longer may indicate circulatory problem. Other things to look for are cold extremities and poor healing of cuts due to lack of circulation. Consult your private MD though. Hope this helps.
2007-06-04 16:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by R L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
symptoms of poor peripheral circulation include, discolored or blueish nail beds on hands and feet. Hands and or feet that go numb or tingle all the time, no palpable pulses at wrists and ankles. Thickened nails on hands and feet as well as discolored and chronically cold skin.
2007-06-04 16:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i lost my leg due to me smoking and poor circulation. discolor of your limb OR toes.,numbness,sores that will not heal. if you think you have it go to you doctor right away before you lose a leg like i have.god bless you
2007-06-08 15:45:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋