Worried about your circulatory and blood vessel health? Learn about blood vessel health, how to take care of your blood vessels, and more.
Blood vessels are elastic tubes that carry blood throughout the body and are an essential part of the circulatory system. As your heart pumps blood through these vessels, they carry oxygen and nutrients while also removing waste products. In total, there are three main types of blood vessels: arteries, capillaries, and veins.
Arteries
These blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to your body’s tissues and begin with the aorta. The blood they carry from the heart to all of the body’s tissues is oxygen-rich. Moreover, they branch several times and become smaller as they get further away from the heart.
Capillaries
As the in-between, capillaries are thin and small blood vessels that connect the arteries and veins. Due to their thin walls, oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and waste products can pass to and from tissue cells.
Veins
Unlike arteries, veins take oxygen-poor blood back to the heart and become larger as they get closer to the heart. The vena cava is a large vein that brings blood from the head and arms to the heart. Conversely, the inferior ven cava brings blood from the abdomen and legs to the heart. Blood continuously flows through this vast system of blood vessels, which is why taking care of it is essential.
Circulation Problems
If you’re having circulation problems, you may have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that hardens the arteries. While healthy arteries prevent blood from clotting, PAD causes them to narrow as they gradually fill with plaque. Once arteries get too narrow, blood cannot circulate effectively and this can lead to tissue damage and heart disease.
It’s important to get a diagnosis from your doctor and start a treatment plan if you have PAD. Untreated PAD can lead to a variety of serious health issues such as heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, it can cause transient ischemic attack (TIA), renal artery disease (stenosis), and even amputation of the leg (sometimes arm).
How to Take Care of Your Blood Vessels
By making healthy lifestyle changes, you can slow down the progress of peripheral artery disease and improve blood vessel health. Start by limiting or eliminating tobacco use, saturated fats, and high cholesterol foods from your life. Instead, aim to exercise regularly, lose weight if you are overweight, and manage your blood pressure and blood glucose.
Also, check your feet daily for wounds and call your doctor if you see a wound that’s not healing. Make sure you take care of your feet by washing them, wear shoes and socks at all times, and avoid crossing your legs.
Finally, try daily circulation supplements like Circulation Boost to promote lower blood pressure and better circulation. By combining healthy lifestyle habits with supplements like Circulation Boost, you can give your blood vessel health the support it needs.