How to improve circulation
The human body is a
complex, efficient machine.
One highly important component
of that machine is
the circulatory system,
which sends blood, oxygen
and nutrients throughout
the body.
In perfectly healthy bodies,
blood, oxygen and nutrients
circulate throughout
the body without issue.
However, several conditions,
including obesity and
diabetes, can contribute to
poor circulation, which is
not a standalone condition
but rather a byproduct of
another serious health issue.
According to the health
information site Healthline,
when the circulatory system
is not working at optimal
capacity, people may
experience tingling, numbness
and throbbing or stinging
pain in the limbs. Pain
and muscle cramps also
may result from poor circulation,
the symptoms of
which vary depending on
the causes. For example,
someone whose circulation
issues are a result of peripheral
COURIER L 24 IFE, MARCH 20-26, 2020
artery disease may experience
different symptoms
than someone whose
circulation has been compromised
by diabetes.
Because issues affecting
the circulatory system
are complex, it’s important
for men and women to learn
how to address such issues
if they suspect their systems
have been compromised.
• Visit your physician.
Poor circulation results
from various health issues,
so people who think they
are dealing with poor circulation
should not try to
address the issue on their
own. Rather, the best way
to improve circulation is
to visit a physician the moment
you note a symptom.
Doctors will confirm if patients
are experiencing circulation
issues and diagnose
what’s causing those
issues. Doctors also will
work with their patients to
devise a course of treatment
for the issue that’s causing
their poor circulation.
• If necessary, lose weight
and keep it off. Obesity is
one of the conditions that
can contribute to poor circulation.
So many people who
are diagnosed with poor
circulation may be advised
to lose weight and keep the
weight off once it’s been
lost. A 2009 study published
in the International Journal
of Cardiology found that
losing weight helped obese
women improve their circulation.
A healthy diet that includes
fish like salmon that
is high in omega-3 fatty acids,
which have been shown
to improve circulation, can
help people lose weight and
maintain healthy weights
going forward.
• Consider yoga. A 2014
review of an assortment of
peer-reviewed studies found
that yoga can have a positive
impact on risk factors
for cardiovascular disease.
A low-impact exercise, yoga
can compress and decompress
veins, potentially improving
circulation. It takes
time to master yoga positions,
but even beginners
who cannot fully perform
poses during a yoga regimen
can benefit from doing
the exercises to the best of
their abilities.
Poor circulation is a byproduct
of various conditions.
Once a condition has
been diagnosed, patients
can help themselves by taking
various steps to improve
their circulation.
Wellness
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Since the December outbreak
in Wuhan, China, the new coronavirus
has spread rapidly, with more
than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114
countries as of early March. According
to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), the virus that
causes the disease known as COVID-19
seems to be spreading in the community
in certain affected geographic areas.
As with any virus, however, there
are simple steps you can take to protect
yourself.
Know the signs
The symptoms of infection for the
new coronavirus are often similar to
those of other respiratory virus infections,
such as influenza. Symptoms
can include fever, cough, or shortness
of breath. Most people will only have
mild symptoms, but some can become
very sick. When person-to-person
spread has occurred with other novel
coronaviruses that caused diseases
such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS), it is thought to have
happened mainly via respiratory droplets
produced when an infected person
coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza
and other respiratory pathogens
spread. Spread of MERS and
SARS has generally occurred between
people in close contact.
“The means of transmission is
similar: through respiratory droplets
produced when a person coughs
or sneezes, or by direct physical contact
with an infected person, such as
shaking hands,” says Dr. David Goldberg,
internist and infectious disease
specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian
Medical Group Westchester and an assistant
professor of medicine at Columbia
University Vagelos College of Physicians
and Surgeons.
If you think you may have been exposed
to a person with COVID-19 and
have symptoms, before going to a doctor’s
office or emergency room, call
ahead and tell them about your symptoms
and any recent travel. You can
also utilize a virtual care platform,
such as NewYork-Presbyterian’s NYP
OnDemand, to meet with a healthcare
professional by video conference. Depending
on the severity of your symptoms,
your doctor will determine
whether or not you need to come in to
be evaluated. Avoid contact with others
and wear a face mask if you need to
leave your home when you are sick.
Keep things clean
Preventative measures are your
first line of defense. The best way to
protect yourself from COVID-19 is to
practice good hygiene and to make
these CDC recommendations part of
your routine:
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and water for at least 20 seconds, especially
after going to the bathroom;
before eating; and after blowing your
nose, coughing, or sneezing.
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available, use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always
wash hands with soap and water
if hands are visibly dirty.
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and mouth with unwashed hands.
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who are sick.
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a tissue, then throw the tissue in the
trash and wash your hands. If you
don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze
into your elbow, rather than into your
hands.
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touched objects and surfaces.
Visit the CDC for guidelines on
how to properly wash your hands and
use hand sanitizer. (Yes, there’s plenty
of science behind this basic habit.)
What about face masks?
You may have noticed a growing
number of people out and about with
their faces covered, but the CDC does
not currently recommend the use of
face masks among the general public.
As noted above, face masks should
be used by people who show COVID-19
symptoms to help prevent the spread of
the disease to others. The use of face
masks is also crucial for health workers
and people who are taking care of
someone in close settings (at home or
in a health care facility).
Plan your travel accordingly
The CDC recommends avoiding
all nonessential travel to mainland
China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy.
Older adults and those with chronic
medical conditions should consider
postponing nonessential travel to Japan.
“For people at risk for the complications
of COVID-19, such as those
with underlying medical conditions or
those who are older, it may be prudent
to avoid any long-distance travel,” says
Dr. Goldberg.Keep in mind, layovers
at airports in these destinations also
count. If a layover is unavoidable, the
CDC recommends that travelers not
leave the airport. Travelers with layovers
may still be subject to screening
and monitoring when entering the
United States.
Stay up to date with CDC’s travel
health notices related to this outbreak.
How NewYork-Presbyterian is
prepared
Rest assured, NewYork-Presbyterian
is following the situation closely
and implementing all recommendations
provided by our local and state
departments of health and the CDC.
Our medical staff is trained to recognize
patients who may have COVID-19
and to keep the new virus from spreading.
Yes, you can still visit family or
friends at NewYork-Presbyterian. We
understand how important the support
of loved ones and friends is to patients
during their hospital stay. At
the same time, the new coronavirus
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visiting policy in order to keep our patients
and visitors safe from infection.
Please visit NYP.org for updated visitor
guidelines.
Telemedicine Info:
If you or your family are experiencing
COVID19 symptoms, such as: cough,
fever, or trouble breathing, healthcare is
at your fingertips with NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital’s Virtual Urgent Care.
Our app lets you see a board-certified
physician from Columbia University
Irving Medical Center or Weill
Cornell Medicine right on your phone,
tablet, or computer, seven days a week:
nyp.org/urgentcare.
This article first appeared on New-
York-Presbyterian’s Health Matters
https://healthmatters.nyp.org/
/urgentcare
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