Get the circulation going: What to do

If there are no illnesses such as thyroid or vein problems or cardiac arrhythmia, you can get your circulation going with a variety of home remedies. These include exercise, circulation training with heat and cold or massages. Although many people don't feel like it in summer, sauna fans never really take a break: regular sauna sessions are actually said to help stimulate the circulation in the long term. The emphasis here is on "regularly". If you can't decide to do so during the warmer months, you should start in the fall at the latest.

So if you regularly have problems with your circulation and find it difficult to get going, especially in the morning, you need to stimulate your cardiovascular system permanently. These tips will help against circulatory problems:

1. alternating showers

Cold stimulation trains the circulation in particular. To strengthen your circulation, take regular contrast showers every morning. The temperature differences stimulate the circulation and train the blood vessels in the long term. And it also wakes you up. You will see lasting results after just a short time.

2. sauna sessions

Sauna sessions followed by cooling off in cold water work on the same principle. Regular visits to the sauna (once or twice a week) therefore have a positive effect on circulatory problems even in the short term. However, just as with contrast showers, it is important to keep at it to get the circulation going. The improvement fizzles out immediately if you stop the routine. When you are getting used to the sauna, talk to your GP about how many sauna sessions he or she recommends for you personally.

3. fluids

If you want to get your circulation going, you should drink plenty of water and unsweetened tea - especially in summer. The fluid promotes the oxygen supply in the blood.

4. exercise

Regular exercise is the best way to permanently combat circulatory problems and get your circulation going. Anyone who sits at a desk a lot should get up from time to time and do at least 2 - 3 sports sessions a week. There are no specific exercises for circulatory problems, because movement as a whole is the magic word. However, if you find it difficult to get going in the morning, for example, you should start moderately and build up. Very strenuous workouts are best done at a time of day when you have a lot of energy.

You should also generally try to integrate more exercise into your everyday life. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, cycle to work instead of driving and walk short distances, for example to the shops. Going for a walk around the block during your lunch break can also get your circulation going again.

5. nutrition

A balanced, vitamin-rich diet also helps to keep your circulation going. For example, foods containing vitamins A and E promote blood circulation. Foods containing vitamin B, such as cauliflower, help to normalize blood pressure and vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron.

6. circulatory drops

Circulatory drops can also help to stabilize the circulation. The ingredients come from various plants and work together as a natural mixture. They cause a slight increase in cardiac output by increasing the heart rate and dilating the blood vessels. This is intended to improve blood flow to the heart muscle and coronary vessels. Korodin cardiovascular drops, for example, are available from pharmacies. Bärbel Drexel's alcohol-free circulatory drops are based on natural ingredients such as ginkgo, rosemary and hawthorn.

Stabilize the circulation: SOS measures

If the case is acute, stabilize the circulation. It is best to lie down and put your legs up. Salty foods such as pretzel sticks, pretzel rolls with salt or broth also help in such a case. Drink plenty of fluids to get your circulation back up and keep it stable. Sweet drinks such as cola can also help in an emergency, as sugar has been proven to increase blood pressure. So just eat more sugar every day? More sugar in your daily diet is not a solution, as it has many negative properties. People who tend to be overweight should be particularly careful with sugar, including fruit, as it contains fructose. Read the article on why sugar makes you ill.

Stimulate circulation on hot days

High temperatures can also really affect our circulation. No wonder, after all, our body has to maintain a core temperature of 37 degrees even in the heat. And to do this, it really gets going. The blood vessels dilate and our blood circulates closer to the surface to cool the body. As a result, blood pressure drops and the circulation slows down. Then it's time to drink a lot, at least 1.5 to two liters of water or tea. Run cold water over your wrists or make cool calf compresses. More tips for circulatory problems in the heat >>>

Causes and symptoms of circulatory problems

It's not just sensitivity to the weather that can make us ill. Low blood pressure (hypotension), stress, getting up too quickly, a lack of oxygen or a large meal can also cause circulatory problems, a feeling of weakness or dizziness, and sometimes even a fainting spell. The reason for this is the brief drop in blood pressure. The blood vessels to the muscles contract, the blood flow to the brain and thus also the oxygen supply decreases. The symptoms can be of various kinds, such as dizziness, sweating, trembling, nausea or palpitations, or those affected may literally feel black in the eyes.

Circulatory problems after the flu?

It is normal for circulatory problems to accompany flu, especially if you have a fever. These are also triggered by a drop in blood pressure because the blood vessels dilate and the blood volume increases. A so-called tympanic effusion, a middle ear infection during flu, can also affect the circulation. This must always be treated by a doctor.

How are circulatory problems diagnosed?

First of all, it is important to have a detailed discussion with the doctor. Among other things, it will be clarified when the circulatory problems occur and how often this happens. The symptoms are also discussed. The doctor then examines the patient and measures their blood pressure and pulse, for example. The blood pressure often has to be measured several times in order to find out the possible cause of the circulatory weakness.

The so-called Schellong test is also frequently carried out, in which the patient's blood pressure is checked both when lying down and after standing up. In the search for possible underlying diseases, for example diseases of the cardiovascular system, a wide range of individual examinations can be carried out, for example an exercise ECG or long-term blood pressure measurements.