The steps for improving blood circulation can vary a bit depending on the cause of circulation problems, but there are a few general ideas that people may want to consider. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can potentially help people with circulation problems or work as preventative therapies. If a person has an illnesses causing his circulation problems, he would generally be advised to deal with the illness directly, using drugs and other prescribed remedies. There are some herbs, such as ginkgo biloba, that are known to be effective, and some patients may rely on therapies like massage or water therapy with varied temperatures.
Exercise has a long-term effect of helping blood circulation. It doesn't necessarily have to be a tremendous amount of exercise, and many people see huge benefits from simply walking more. According to some experts, if basic exercise is maintained from a young age, many circulation problems related to old age can be avoided.
The majority of nutritionists believe that diet can cause blood vessels to become clogged, especially as people age. The foods blamed for this effect vary a bit, but fat and simple carbohydrates like sugar tend to get the most mention among experts. Certain habits, like smoking, are also frequently blamed for circulation problems, and people may be able to benefit from avoiding those behaviors.
Individuals with high blood pressure are always in danger of developing clogged veins, which hurt circulation. Improving circulation for these people can sometimes be accomplished by always taking blood pressure medications on time. People with diabetes also tend to develop circulation problems, and they can usually benefit by following treatment plans for that disease.
Taking an aspirin a day is known to be helpful in improving blood circulation. Some people rely heavily on the herb gingko biloba for improving circulation in all parts of the body, but especially in the brain. There are other herbs, like ginger, known to help with circulation, but many of them haven't been tested extensively.
Some people rely on special physical therapy techniques. One of the most popular is massage, which helps get blood into certain muscle groups and enhances circulation throughout the body. Another method that's quite popular is hydrotherapy, where people will constantly change the water temperature in baths, showers, or saunas. Veins tend to react to temperature changes by expanding or contracting, and many people find this variation can relieve some of their circulation-related symptoms.