Tablets for the blood circulation of the vessels of the legs. How to improve blood circulation in the legs with medicines and folk methods

The most important task of blood vessels is to provide nutrition and oxygen to all cells of the body. Through them, blood from the heart is transferred to all cells, tissues and organs, and then returns to it again.

By vessels we mean:

• capillaries;
• veins;
• arteries.

Capillaries are microscopic tube-like elements that branch out a thousandfold along the way from one organ to another. It is in the capillaries that the interchange of vital substances between cells and arterial blood takes place. Also, the vessels remove metabolic products and carbon dioxide from the body, which the tissues give back, receiving nutrition and oxygen in return. Even with the most minor circulatory disorders, failures occur that impede this process and diseases associated with impaired blood supply to the tissues and cells of the body develop. In this article, we will try to competently answer the question of how to improve blood circulation in the legs.

Causes of the phenomenon

The causes that cause circulatory disorders are divided into several groups:

• peripheral angiopathy (more often develops with diabetes mellitus, peripheral atherosclerosis);
• blockage of blood vessels in atherosclerotic diseases;
• inflammation of the walls of the artery, which leads to their spasm.

The above violations provoke the following diseases:

1. Atherosclerosis of the legs, which is called obliterating (a chronic disease characterized by numbness of the legs and lameness). An ailment develops due to the accumulation of lipids and cholesterol plaques in the vessels, which lead to blockage of the capillaries (in whole or in part).
2. Thromboangiitis obliterans (endarteritis). The disease is autoimmune in nature. It is manifested by the fact that the spasmodic vessels of the thigh are poorly nourished by blood, as a result of circulatory disorders. The disease affects mainly young men who abuse nicotine.
3. Vascular damage due to diabetes mellitus. In medicine, the term "diabetic foot" is well known. As a result of circulatory disorders in the legs, gangrene (necrotic damage to the foot) begins, which is not amenable to conservative treatment. As a rule, a diabetic foot leads to its amputation.
4. Thrombophlebitis.

Symptoms of circulatory disorders

Violation of the blood supply in the legs is manifested by pain when walking, which disappear at rest. This symptom is a hallmark of diseases that indicate serious problems with the arteries. It's called intermittent claudication.

There are several factors that provoke the development of intermittent claudication:

• abuse of nicotine and alcohol;
• elderly age;
• lipid metabolism disorder;
• obesity;
• psycho-emotional stress;
• genetic predisposition;
• diabetes.

With this symptom, there are:

• pain in different parts of the leg: in the lumbar region, foot, knee or thigh;
• numbness and chilliness of the limb;
• weakness in the legs;
• heaviness in the legs, a person can hardly move his legs;
• frequent seizures.

In some cases, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities is not manifested by any symptoms.

Diagnosis of circulatory disorders

In order to take measures to improve blood supply, it is necessary to accurately diagnose such disorders.

For diagnosis, you should contact a vascular surgeon (angiosurgeon), who will prescribe a variety of instrumental studies:

1. Doppler (Dopplerography) of blood vessels (ultrasound of the vessels of the legs). The essence of the method lies in the ability of ultrasonic waves to penetrate tissues and repel from the surface of erythrocytes, which are part of the blood and move with it. Doppler detects areas where there is stagnation of blood. In other words, if the mobility of these blood cells in certain areas is reduced, then a violation of the blood supply is diagnosed.
2. Angiography of the vessels of the legs. It is an instrumental contrast study of capillaries, veins and arteries, which allows you to determine the condition of the walls of blood vessels, as well as the presence of barriers that prevent normal blood circulation.
3. Thermometry (determination of skin temperature of the lower extremities).
4. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In order to get the best results, the MRI procedure is combined with the introduction of a contrast agent into the body. It is administered intravenously, which allows for a better diagnosis.
5. Capillaroscopy. A method that assesses the condition of soft tissue capillaries. But the basis of this method can determine the level of blood microcirculation.

How to improve circulation in the legs?

Poor circulation in the legs affects the entire body. Therefore, this condition is subject to urgent correction. Violation of the blood supply is treated in two ways:

• in a conservative way;
• Surgically.

In order not to resort to surgical intervention, it is necessary to start conservative treatment in a timely manner. It consists in carrying out treatment with the help of:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• pharmacological preparations;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• massage.

For successful treatment, it is necessary to completely change your lifestyle and get rid of bad habits (alcohol and nicotine, fatty foods, sedentary lifestyle).

Pharmacological treatment involves taking:

• antiplatelet agents (drugs that improve blood circulation);
• anticoagulants (drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots);
• statins (drugs that lower cholesterol);
• phlebotonics (drugs that improve vascular tone);
• diuretics (diuretics that relieve congestion in the legs).

In advanced cases (with untimely access to a doctor), there will be a need for surgical treatment, which is carried out in two directions:

• angioplasty;
• open surgery.

Angioplasty speaks for itself. This is a surgical procedure for replacing a diseased vessel with the installation of a stent, a metal device that is implanted into the vessel to ensure its patency.

Open surgery is a full-fledged surgical operation that is performed to create an artificial vessel (shunt), bypassing the affected ones. To create such vessels, a donor artery is taken (from the patient's own vessels) and bypass is performed. The shunt can also be made of artificial material.

Therapeutic exercises for circulatory disorders of the legs

Well-being will improve completely only when a person begins to perform moderate physical exercise. For this, it is not necessary to visit fitness centers or gyms. Short walks, swimming, hiking, cycling, dancing and yoga will help improve blood circulation. When performing special exercises for the correction of blood supply, it is necessary to choose those that are suitable for a person according to his disease and well-being. In addition, it should be remembered that there are activities that are strictly contraindicated for people with impaired blood circulation in the legs. These include:

• mountaineering;
• weightlifting (lifting the barbell);
• athletics (all its types).

Otherwise, serious complications may occur that require surgical treatment. Why is it so important to restore normal blood circulation in the lower extremities in a short time? Due to the high-quality blood supply to the lower extremities, the tissues are enriched with nutrients, get rid of the end products of metabolism, which contributes to the health and strengthening of the legs. Unfortunately, diseases that provoke blood circulation disorders in the lower extremities have a chronic course and cannot be completely eliminated. In this case, the best effect that can be achieved is to stop the progression of the disease.

Exercises to improve circulation in the legs

Since the most effective and easiest way to normalize blood circulation in the legs is physiotherapy exercises, they should be started immediately after a problem is discovered. Moderate exercise is encouraged even if the patient has diabetes. Such exercises can be performed at home, as they are simple and very easy to perform.

Improve blood circulation and appearance of the legs, the following exercises:

1. Slowly rise and fall on your toes, while feeling tension in each leg muscle.
2. Take turns lifting your legs off the floor, while performing circular movements with your foot.
3. Scissors exercise. Lie on the floor, raise both legs up, then cross your straight legs, making scissors movements.
4. Exercise bike. Lie on the floor, bend your knees, make movements imitating the rotation of the pedals of a bicycle.
5. Exercise "Birch". Lying on the floor, raise your legs up, perpendicular to the floor and bend them to the chin. Place your hands on your back slightly above your waist. The entire weight of the body should rest on the arms and shoulder blades. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then gently lie down on the floor.

All exercises must be repeated 5-10 times. Roller skating and skating are very useful, provided that a person has such skills. If you learn this on purpose, you can get injured, which is not at all conducive to leg health. You need to move as much as possible, walk often, climb stairs on your own without an elevator, and try to avoid public transport.

General Tips for Improving Blood Circulation in the Lower Extremities

At home and at work, the following rules should be observed:

1. Don't stand on your feet for too long and don't sit too long at your desk. It is necessary to move throughout the day so that the blood circulates normally through the veins and arteries. If it is necessary to be in the same position for several hours, then you should stop and perform several exercises that improve blood circulation in the legs. Office workers are advised to take a break every hour. You can just walk a few steps and return to your workplace.
2. It is necessary to adopt a body posture that will promote normal blood circulation. You can not cross your legs while sitting at the table, because this position of the legs prevents normal blood circulation. You need to sit so that the legs are slightly apart to the sides, and the feet rest on the floor. But even in this position should not be too long. It is also recommended to get up and walk, raise your legs so as not to stay in one position for a long time. You can raise your legs on a small chair or stool to improve blood circulation.
3. Do leg exercises. Any exercise that can involve the legs improves blood circulation. It is also important to do leg relaxation exercises. There are many relaxing poses and exercises that improve the condition of not only the lower extremities, but also the cardiovascular system.
4. Wearing comfortable shoes. Tight, uncomfortable shoes with high heels and stilettos greatly interfere with normal blood circulation. In addition, blood circulation from the legs to the heart is disturbed. Therefore, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes should be avoided or worn only on certain occasions. A good replacement for heels is a platform. If, for example, a woman needs extra height, then you should wear platform shoes, which do not have such a detrimental effect on the condition of the legs.
5. Wearing compression stockings. These stockings improve blood circulation and are designed specifically to stimulate it. They can be purchased at a pharmacy or ordered according to your individual characteristics.
6. To give up smoking. It is this addiction that contributes to the development of peripheral diseases. In this case, the veins and arteries of the lower extremities lose their elasticity and are no longer able to carry out blood circulation. Therefore, people with poor blood circulation need to give up this bad habit.
7. Take quality nutritional supplements. Dietary supplements are able to stimulate the blood circulation of the cardiovascular system and dilate blood vessels. The best remedy in this category is nutritional supplements containing an extract of the Ginkgo biloba plant. It is consumed internally as a tea, after adding fresh ginger to it. Such a drink should be included in the daily diet of a person who has a violation of blood circulation. Birch bark tea has the same properties. It tastes very good, especially with the addition of natural honey. Cayenne pepper tea dilates blood vessels and improves blood circulation. Cayenne pepper can also be added to food. Fish oil supplements are good for stimulating blood circulation. Since fish oils contain omega-3 acids, these supplements are essential for a healthy fat metabolism. They are available in capsules and tablets.
8. Proper nutrition. The daily diet should be balanced, with a high content of fresh vegetables and fruits. It is very important to reduce the amount of salt consumed, as salt retains water in the body and contributes to the formation of edema.
9. Control body weight. It is necessary to monitor the number of calories consumed, since excess weight loads the joints and the circulatory system, and excessively fatty foods contribute to the formation of sclerotic plaques and blockage of blood vessels.

In diabetes, the circulatory system is one of the first to suffer. In a healthy person, blood circulates freely through the veins and capillaries.

Together with it, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the cells of various organs. From the cells, in turn, decay products are removed and transported to the excretory organs.

With age, the functioning of the circulatory system is disrupted, it no longer copes with the full performance of its tasks. If, at the same time, such a pathology as diabetes mellitus develops in the body, this process is significantly accelerated.

Due to insufficient nutrition and oxygen saturation, any organ can fail. Often the lower extremities are seriously affected.

Patients with diabetes first complain of fatigue of the legs, heaviness in the calves, swelling of the ankle joint. And later - for swelling of the veins, varicose veins and thrombosis.

The main danger is that with a weakened immune system, damaged vessels quickly form knots, ulcerations appear on the skin, turning into extensive trophic ulcers.

With diabetes, any, even minor wounds, are very difficult to treat and are prone to suppuration. A trophic ulcer can cause gangrene, and this entails the amputation of a limb.

Therefore, all diabetics need to know how to improve blood circulation in the legs.

Why blood circulation is disturbed

To fix the problem, you need to know the cause of its occurrence. Circulatory disorders lead to:

• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Overweight;
• Bad habits, especially smoking;
• Improper nutrition;
• Wrong metabolism.

If labor activity is associated with a long stay on the legs or in one position, carrying or lifting weights, this also leads to insufficient blood supply to the lower extremities.

How is circulatory disorders in the legs manifested?

Any person who pays attention to the state of his health can independently understand when problems with blood flow begin.

Discomfort in the lower extremities and pain in the evening for no apparent reason, for women - pain after several hours in narrow high-heeled shoes in the first place indicates that the vessels are out of order.

In diabetes mellitus, swollen veins and vascular "asterisks" are often visually visible on the skin of the legs. If swelling and swelling do not go away even after a night's rest, you should immediately consult a doctor. A condition that is not uncommon.

Ultrasound is used for accurate diagnosis. With its help, the state of even the intramuscular vessels of the lower extremities is revealed.

How to normalize blood flow in the legs

The sooner a problem is discovered and measures taken to eliminate it, the easier it will be to deal with it and not remember it for as long as possible. The very first and main method of dealing with impaired blood circulation is therapeutic exercises. In diabetes, it is also not contraindicated - moderate physical activity is necessary.

1. "Bike". Starting position - on the back, lying on the floor. Bend your legs at the knees, bend your arms at the elbows, place your palms under your head. With your feet, start “pedaling” in the air. At the same time, it is important to stretch the legs and socks as much as possible, tension should be felt in the muscles. Perform daily for at least 20 minutes.
2. "Birch". Starting position lying on your back. Pull your knees up to your chin, then straighten your legs up, perpendicular to the floor, supporting your back with your palms just above the waist. You need to lean on your elbows and shoulder blades. You should try to keep your legs straight, breathe evenly. Hold this position for at least 1 minute, then carefully return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.

Improvements will be noticeable after 2-3 weeks of regular classes.

Recommended morning jogging, walking, fitness, rollerblading and skating. You need to try to move as much as possible, preferring walking to public transport and elevators. Shoes should not be tight and without heels.

How to improve blood circulation in the legs for those who have to sit for many hours at work? In this case, you need to put a small bench under the table, in extreme cases - a stack of books or magazines. From time to time, you should raise your legs on this support to facilitate the outflow of blood.

Some foods can help you deal with poor blood circulation. Sour apples, boiled beets, raw garlic have a tonic and strengthening effect on blood vessels.

Improvements will not be noticeable immediately, but they will be fixed for a long time if you use these products every day. With diabetes, they are allowed.

In folk medicine, adonis is used to prevent circulatory disorders in the legs. To prepare a decoction, one teaspoon of raw materials is poured into a glass of water, brought to a boil and cooked over low heat for 5 minutes. Then insist three quarters of an hour, filter and bring the volume up to 200 ml with boiled water. You need to take a decoction of a tablespoon three times a day.

In the same way, a decoction of wild rosemary is prepared. The course of treatment lasts 3 weeks, after which there should be improvements.

It is very important to normalize weight and give up bad habits. Be sure to exclude alcohol, fatty foods, smoked meats, convenience foods and fast food. If all these measures, combined with physical exercises, did not bring results, you should consult a doctor - he will prescribe an additional ointment or other medicines to restore blood circulation.

Since circulatory disorders in the legs in diabetes mellitus lead to the most serious complications, up to amputation, diabetics should especially carefully monitor the condition of their legs and be sure to follow preventive measures.

1. The lower limbs should always be in an elevated position, even when the person is lying down. For this, benches, rollers and pillows are used.
2. You can not leave your legs motionless for a long time. It is enough just to at least move your fingers from time to time if there is no way to do a warm-up. With open wounds, exercise should be abandoned - this can delay the healing process.
3. Regular foot baths with sea or aromatic salt help to normalize blood circulation.
4. You should carefully choose socks and stockings - the upper elastic band should not be tight, preventing blood flow. Special anti-varicose socks and stockings for diabetics are now being produced.
5. Be sure to use an ointment for varicose veins, thrombosis, you can home-made or pharmacy (after the approval of the attending physician). Well helps special.
6. Most diabetics already adhere to a strict diet. In case of impaired blood circulation of the lower extremities, this is especially important. High cholesterol and obesity greatly affect blood flow, making it difficult. Therefore, it is important to prevent the deposition of toxins and toxins in the vessels.
7. High blood pressure is another negative factor that affects blood circulation. You should limit the use of caffeinated products, exclude alcohol and avoid any stress.

Massage of the feet will help to quickly improve the outflow of blood - you can do it yourself, additionally rubbing an ointment that stimulates blood flow.

Peripheral circulation is a continuous process of blood circulation in small veins and arteries, capillaries, as well as arterioles and venules. A variety of factors lead to a violation of blood circulation, among them: tumors, injuries, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, etc.

Signs of impaired circulation can be: pain in the legs, swelling, discoloration of the limbs, headaches, hearing problems, imbalance, numbness of the limbs, etc.

Treatment of impaired circulation

With impaired circulation, the following diseases occur:

• arterial and venous hyperemia
• thrombosis
• embolism
• varicose veins
• Raynaud's disease

For treatment, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause and, depending on it, prescribe medication. In acute disorders, surgery may be required. In addition, the treatment must be combined with proper nutrition (eat food low in fat and salt), give up bad habits (smoking and alcohol) and undergo special procedures to improve blood flow (vibration therapy, electromagnetic therapy, etc.).

The following groups of drugs are used to improve blood circulation:

1) Drugs that improve microcirculation - this group of drugs acts on the vessels of the microcirculatory bed. As a result, the vessels dilate, and the blood becomes less viscous. As a rule, drugs of this group are used for circulatory disorders against the background of various diseases (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis):

• radomin
• chimes
• pentoxifylline
• trental
• vasonite

2) Prostaglandin E1 preparations - drugs of this group have a positive effect on microcirculation and blood flow, and also have a hypotensive effect:
vazaprostan

3) Calcium channel blockers are mainly used to improve blood circulation in the brain. Contribute to the improvement of vascular microcirculation and limit damage to brain tissue. These include:

• cinnarizine
• logmax
• nafadil
• nimotop
• cinnasan
• brainal
• norvax
• arifon
• cordipin
• foridon
• nifecard
• cordafen

4) Low molecular weight dextran preparations - drugs of this group have a positive effect on blood fluidity, by attracting additional blood volumes from the intercellular space. These include:

• rheomacrodex
• hemostabil
• rheopolyglucin

5) Myotropic antispasmodics - this group of drugs dilates blood vessels and relaxes smooth muscles. Myotropic antispasmodics show high efficiency in spasms of cerebral vessels:

• spasmol
• halidor
• mydocalm

6) Phytopreparations - preparations that are created on the basis of plant materials. Phytopreparations show high efficiency in diseases of the cerebral vessels, as well as in obliterating atherosclerosis and endarteritis. These include:

• bilobil
• tanakan

7) Alpha-blockers - drugs of this group contribute to a better blood supply to peripheral tissues. These include:

• phentolamine
• prazosin
• sermion

8) Ganglioblockers - these drugs improve blood circulation in the lower extremities, and also have a pronounced hypotensive effect (lower blood pressure):

• pyrylene
• temehin
• dimecolin
• pachycarpine

9) Bioflavonoids - substances of plant origin that increase blood flow and improve the condition of blood vessels:

• venoruton
• anthoxide

10) Dopamine receptor stimulants - this group of drugs has an effect on dopamine receptors, which, in turn, leads to vasodilation. Improve blood circulation in the lower extremities - pronoran.

In this article, you'll learn how to improve circulation in your legs through lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery.

Article publication date: 05/02/2017

Article last updated: 05/29/2019

Poor circulation in the legs is a symptom of various diseases that lead to narrowing of arterial vessels or stagnation of blood in the veins. Such diseases include diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obliterating endarteritis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins.

You can identify the deterioration of blood circulation in the legs by the presence of symptoms that depend on the type of disease. Arterial blood flow disorders are manifested by pain in the legs when walking, numbness and weakness in the lower extremities, discoloration of the skin and hair loss, a constant feeling of coldness in the legs, brittleness and slow growth of nails, and a decrease in muscles in the legs. Venous congestion is manifested by blue skin color, edema on the legs, the presence of varicose veins, trophic changes and ulcers on the lower extremities.

In the presence of these symptoms, the doctor examines the patient, determines the pulsation in the arteries of the legs, and reveals signs of venous stasis.

To clarify the diagnosis, doctors use instrumental examination methods, including:

• Ankle-brachial blood pressure index is the simplest and most affordable method for assessing the deterioration of blood flow in the legs. With the patient in the supine position, the doctor or nurse measures the pressure at the shoulder and at the ankle. The ankle reading is then divided by the shoulder reading. Normally, the level of blood pressure in the arms and legs is almost the same, so the index is approximately equal to 1. However, if arterial blood flow in the legs is disturbed, the pressure on the ankle decreases, so the index becomes lower than 1.
• Ultrasound examination of the vessels of the lower extremities allows you to assess the blood flow in the arteries and veins, to detect their narrowing and thrombosis. An indispensable method for diagnosing vascular diseases of the lower extremities.
• Angiography is an x-ray examination of blood vessels with the help of a contrast agent injected into them.

Most diseases that impair blood circulation in the legs are chronic in nature, so it is very rare to completely eliminate them. Sometimes improving the condition or stopping the progression of the disease is the best result of treatment, which is based on lifestyle changes, the use of medications and surgical interventions. Sometimes with arterial insufficiency, the blood flow in the legs is so bad that an amputation has to be done.

Vascular surgeons deal with the problem of poor blood circulation in the legs.

Improving blood supply to the legs through lifestyle changes

In the initial stages of worsening blood flow in the legs, lifestyle changes can help prevent the progression of the disease and alleviate its symptoms:

1. To give up smoking.
2. Refusal to abuse alcohol.
3. Healthy food.
4. Physical activity.
5. Weight normalization.
6. Other recommendations.

1. Smoking cessation

Stopping smoking reduces the risk of worsening arterial blood flow. Cigarette smoke contains substances that directly act on the walls of blood vessels, narrow their lumen and impair blood flow. Passive smoking has the same effects.

2. Refusal to abuse alcohol

Scientific evidence suggests that drinking in moderation can slow down the development of atherosclerosis. However, alcohol abuse has also been proven to increase the risk of circulatory disorders in the legs, so excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided.

3. Healthy eating

A healthy diet is useful for lowering blood cholesterol, which is one of the main factors in the development of atherosclerosis. Patients with circulatory disorders in the legs should follow a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

4. Physical activity

Regular exercise has been scientifically proven to help reduce the severity and symptoms of poor circulation in the legs, both venous and arterial.

Doctors recommend exercise as one of the first ways to improve circulation in the legs. Best of all, exercises help, the program of which is developed by a physiotherapist individually for each patient.

One of the best types of physical activity is walking. In people with arterial insufficiency, walking can cause pain in the legs, but it should not be abandoned, since gradually such patients will begin to notice relief of the symptoms of the disease and an increase in the distance traveled.

5. Weight normalization

Weight loss can be achieved through a balanced diet and regular exercise. Due to the normalization of body weight, venous and arterial blood flow in the legs improves, which leads to an alleviation of the clinical picture of the disease. A healthy weight also contributes to the improvement of the functioning of the entire cardiovascular system, which favorably affects the blood supply to the lower extremities.

To improve the outflow of venous blood from the legs, you can use the following tips:

• wear compression stockings;
• wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing. Uncomfortable shoes can injure the foot, which can be very dangerous if blood flow is poor. Tight clothing can pinch venous vessels;
• raise your legs. To improve venous blood flow, raise your legs above heart level several times a day. To do this, you can lie on the bed, and put 3-4 pillows under your feet;
• avoid prolonged standing or sitting;
• do not sit cross-legged.

Medical therapy

For some patients, lifestyle changes and non-drug treatments may not eliminate or sufficiently relieve the symptoms of poor blood flow in the legs. In such cases, doctors, taking into account the cause of circulatory disorders, prescribe drug therapy.

The following drugs are used:

• Antiplatelet agents (aspirin, clopidogrel) are drugs that prevent platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. Doctors prescribe one of these drugs for. Side effects of aspirin include upset stomach and increased risk of bleeding; side effects of clopidogrel are headaches, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, bleeding.
• Anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin, xarelto) are drugs that prevent blood from clotting. These drugs are often prescribed for venous thrombosis, less often for arterial circulatory failure. The main side effect of anticoagulants is increased bleeding.
• Statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) are drugs that help reduce the production of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the liver. By lowering cholesterol in the blood, the risk of formation and increase in atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels of the lower extremities is reduced. Side effects of statins are indigestion, headache, nausea, and muscle pain.
• Cilostazol is a medicine used for arterial insufficiency, which helps to increase physical activity, that is, it helps to increase the distance that a person can walk without pain. Cilostazol leads to the expansion of the arteries and increased blood supply to the legs. Side effects include headache, diarrhea and dizziness. Cilostazol should not be used in patients with heart failure.
• Pentoxifylline is a drug that improves blood flow in the lower extremities by reducing its viscosity. It is used for violations of the arterial blood supply to the legs.
• Medicines for diabetes. Treatment of diabetes and careful control of blood glucose levels are essential measures for patients with impaired arterial blood flow in the legs.
• Diuretics are diuretic drugs that doctors prescribe for edema and venous congestion in the legs.
• Diosmin is a drug that increases the tone of the venous wall. It is used for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

Surgical methods

If lifestyle changes and conservative therapy fail to improve the blood supply to the legs, surgical treatment is used. The type of surgery performed depends on the cause and degree of circulatory disorders.

Operations for insufficiency of arterial blood supply

Surgery for arterial insufficiency is designed to restore blood flow through the arteries. In medicine, such interventions are called revascularization.

There are two main types of revascularization:

1. Angioplasty is an operation in which a blocked or narrowed section of an artery is expanded by inflating a small balloon inside the vessel. Sometimes a stent is placed in the affected area of ​​the artery - an intravascular prosthesis that keeps the vessel open.
2. Bypass is the creation of a bypass for blood with a vessel taken from another part of the body. This bypass allows blood to flow to the legs, bypassing the narrowing of the artery.

In very severe cases of insufficient arterial blood supply, some patients develop gangrene of the leg. In such cases, amputation of the limb may be necessary.

Operations in violation of the venous outflow

For varicose veins, use:

• Sclerotherapy is the introduction of a drug solution into the lumen of a varicose vein, which causes its walls to stick together and disappear.
• Laser and radiofrequency ablation are operations for which a doctor inserts a thin catheter into an enlarged vein. In this catheter, the tip can be heated using radio frequency waves or laser energy. This heat destroys the vein, causing it to disappear.
• Venectomy is the surgical removal of varicose veins.

Forecast

The prognosis for poor blood supply to the legs depends on what disease it is caused by.

With varicose veins, the prognosis is relatively favorable, since if the rules for improving the outflow of blood from the lower extremities and effective treatment are observed, the violation of blood flow can be almost completely eliminated.

With legs, the prognosis is more affected by control of blood glucose levels. Without this control, almost all methods of improving blood flow will be ineffective, which may lead to the need for amputation.

Vasodilating drugs for the lower extremities are necessary medicines for circulatory disorders that occur for various reasons.

Such funds help to restore blood circulation, and therefore, to establish the trophism of tissues and organs. Therefore, further we will talk in detail about this group of drugs.

Before moving on to the consideration of drugs to improve blood circulation and improve memory, you first need to understand what is causing the violation of this process.

Vasoconstriction- a dangerous pathological phenomenon, which is the most important mechanism for the occurrence of many diseases.

In the normal state of the vascular bed and blood circulation, there is a sufficient supply of tissues and organs with nutrients and oxygen.

The reasons for this phenomenon are varied. They depend on external and internal factors and the duration of their influence.

Reference. In this case, both arteries and veins are affected.

The main factors contributing to the development of such a pathological condition are:

Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of vasoconstriction.

1. - on the walls of the arteries as a result of a failure of metabolic processes, cholesterol begins to be deposited, forming atherosclerotic plaques.
2. and - under the influence of certain factors, platelets begin to form blood clots. A blood clot can come off and clog partially or completely the lumen of the vessels, thereby disrupting blood circulation.
3. Inflammatory changes(, arteritis) - swelling of the vascular walls occurs, which impairs blood flow.
4. Metabolic disorders with diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, overweight.
5. Congenital vascular pathologies.
6. Endarteritis- an unexplained allergic reaction from the intima of the arteries, which leads to a complete blockage of the lumen.

In addition, external factors should be highlighted. Arteries are especially susceptible to them, since they have a muscle layer that reacts to unfavorable circumstances.

Provoking factors are smoking, stressful situations, hypothermia, excessive drinking.

The treatment of this condition is to improve blood microcirculation and eliminate the cause of the development of the phenomenon. Therapy should begin on time, since vasoconstriction can lead to many unpleasant complications.

Drugs to improve blood circulation

Preparations to improve peripheral circulation in the lower extremities are used for various pathological changes, the consequence of which is a violation of the nutrition of leg tissues.

Violation of blood circulation in the legs can cause soreness, swelling, change the color of the skin.

Reference. Such diseases include atherosclerosis, trophic ulcers, Raynaud's syndrome, etc.

Modern medicine in the complex treatment of trophic disorders caused by narrowing of blood vessels, the following drugs are used to restore blood circulation.

Self-treatment with such drugs can have unexpected consequences, so the need for their use should be discussed with the doctor.

Medications for exacerbations

If the disturbances in the process of blood circulation are quite serious and have an acute course, then a specialist, in addition to tablets to improve blood circulation in the vessels of the legs, prescribes anticoagulants.

These medicines reduce blood clotting. Thus, they restore its fluidity and indirectly improve blood flow.

In addition, their use will avoid complications in the form of thrombosis and all the ensuing consequences. This type of medicine includes:

1. "Heparin"- prevents sticking, lowers cholesterol and lipid levels.
2. "Warfarin"- Vitamin K antagonist.
3. "Urokinase"- characterized by fibrinolytic action: dilates blood vessels and dissolves blood clots.

These drugs are prescribed for acute pathology

The treatment of such pathological conditions is always carried out in a complex manner, therefore it is not worth choosing one drug in the hope that it will help.

A combination of several groups of drugs can have an effective therapeutic effect.

Conclusion

Medicines to improve blood circulation are a necessary component in the treatment of various disorders of blood circulation.

In addition, of course, one should not forget about the observance of additional measures in the fight against the disease: proper nutrition, appropriate physical activity, etc.