Quote: (12-23-2015 08:18 PM)rottenapple Wrote:
Did a quick search but didn't find any specific thread on this.
Blood circulation, we all know what it is and many of us suffer from poor circulation, me included. However I wonder if anyone really knows what causes it? What can we do about it? Is it related to our digestion, nervous system, liver function?
I hope there are some members here who have knowledge about it.
When I google search it, some common causes that come up are: diabetes, obesity, blood pressure and some more specific vein and arteries conditions. Somehow though I feel they do not tell the whole picture. I'm sure if there would be data, we would see a sharp increase in last 10-20 years as in many other conditions in western world (diabetes/cancer most obvious examples). Could it be related to the chemicals we use (see other RVF thread)? As many full body problems that are interconnected with various organs, I think science is just making somewhat calculated guesses.
For me personally: I think I have had bad blood circulation since a very young age. I used to play football all the time, but although I had the stamina to play for hours, I noticed I didn't recover as fast as others afterwards. The next day I would be in pain, especially in the legs, where I can still generate cramps at any moment (do other people have this?). In later teenage years I would have the same problem with heavy lifting/gym training. I'd train strong doing exactly the same exercises as my friends I'd go with, but next day they had recovered a lot more. I am in good shape (no excess fat), work out a lot, don't have diabetes, don't eat too much salt or have a generally unhealthy diet. Do drink a lot of alcohol, have bad digestion and should probably do more stamina related sports.
Other linkages I can see feasible. Male pattern baldness could have something to do with it, muscle stamina, erectile dysfunction or having a long recovery time after sex, Nitrogen Oxide levels, sweating or bad temperature management of your body , food intolerance as a cause...
What can we do about it?
I've had some success with supplements, for instance ginger or L-citrulline, but they seem more like short term solutions. I'd rather know what causes it and how it can be permanently improved. I think diet can be a key element for solving this problem, but I'm lacking specifics here.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps someone was able to improve this condition after certain steps taken?
Back up a bit. You mentioned a lot of factors, some which sound more related to low testosterone (ED, long post-workout recovery times) than bad circulation. Have you seen a doctor about this? If not, do that first. The following is not medical advice, and should be used for entertainment or informative purposes only.
Tell your doctor your symptoms, have them recommend bloodwork.
If it's related to testosterone, the most important tests would probably be Free testosterone and Estradiol. The window for "Normal" testosterone levels is quite wide, and puts the value for a man on death's doorstep with a young, virulent man in the same category. You want to actually be close or above the mean value. It varies based on the diagnostic company (Quest, labcorp, etc) so read http://elitemensguide.com/testosterone-levels-by-age/ to evaluate your results. If it's low, your Estradiol results may indicate whether environmental estrogens are at fault.
If it's circulatory related, that seems like a complex topic you'd best defer to your doctor. If it were me, the first place I'd look at would be inflammatory markers. Have you checked your C reactive protein (CRP)? Have you checked for an iron or B vitamin deficiency? Checked for hypothyroidism? Are you eating a diet high in anti-inflammatory food (wild caught cold water fish, garlic, onions, fish oil, eggs, anything with high omega 3 fatty acid content)?
How is your heart health? Do you have a HDL/triglyceride ratio above 0.5? What is your blood pressure, is it too low? Tests for abnormal heart patterns can get expensive (ECG, EKG, etc).
Your circulation might also be fine, but your body's ability to deliver oxygen to the brain and extremities low. Is your liver enzyme fine? I had symptoms of low circulation, but it turned out to be anxiety related. Do you ever get shortness of breath? TMJ (Jaw pops when you chew food)? Inflammation in throat or ears?
Depending on your insurance, all of those tests I mentioned might get expensive. I'd at least start with the common ones covered by all insurances, and move on to the others as you eliminate possibilities. Good luck.