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how to improve your circulation

05.19.22

How To Improve Your Circulation

When patients come into the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center office for vein care near Bentonville, they’re rightfully focused on their circulatory health. It’s not surprising then that our patients frequently ask us about their circulation. The number one question: What is good circulation?

Uncertainty around this question makes some sense. Circulation is a vague term that gets thrown around a lot in advertising and on social media. But that’s why the experts at Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center want to make sure we set the record straight on circulation.

So, are you wondering how to improve your circulation? Let’s talk about it.

Your Trusted Vein Specialists

You know Dr. Haney and the incredible team at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center for their work as premier vein experts in Rogers. With patients from all across Northwestern Arkansas, from Bentonville down to Fayetteville, the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center can now provide you with world-class arterial disease care in Rogers.

Dr. Christopher Stout, the newest addition to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center family, is a world-class vascular surgeon with specialties in angioplasty, arterial stenting, and limb salvage. Dr. Stout is a leading expert in diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases and conditions affecting arteries and veins.

We’re committed to providing exceptional patient education to everyone we work with. We believe everyone should have access to broad, vascular knowledge and resources. That’s why this blog will provide a comprehensive breakdown of circulation. 

We’ll give you a rundown of everything you need to know about good vs. bad circulation, signs and symptoms of poor circulation, and how to improve your circulation moving forward!

So, let’s dive in!

Circulation 101

When discussing circulation, what we’re really talking about is the efficiency and effectiveness of your circulatory system. At its core, the circulatory system is made up of blood vessels, arteries, and veins that carry blood away from and towards the heart. Your blood vessels carry oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to individual organs, tissue, and cells and remove waste products like carbon dioxide from your blood. 

This allows for the continuous cycling of resources throughout your body to support stable metabolic function. Stable metabolic function is the conversion of nutrients into energy necessary for your body’s operation. For example, every time you eat or drink something, your body converts that food into calories and nutrients, which need to be sent around the body to keep everything working properly.

To keep oxygen and nutrients going to the right place, your blood vessels only move in one direction. Arteries carry blood from the heart to different parts of the body, and your veins carry that depleted blood back to the heart. 

The breakdown of this process causes many of the health issues we treat at our vein and artery clinic.

Bloodflow is Key

As previously stated, the circulatory system is responsible for the movement of blood throughout your body. At its most fundamental, the vascular system is made up of blood vessels, arteries and veins, that carry blood away from and towards the heart. Your blood vessels carry oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to individual organs, tissue, and cells and remove waste products like carbon dioxide from your blood. 

This allows for the continuous cycling of resources throughout your body to support stable metabolic function. Stable metabolic function is the conversion of nutrients into energy necessary for your body’s operation. For example, every time you eat or drink something, your body converts that food into calories and nutrients, which need to be sent around the body to keep everything working properly.

To keep the oxygen and nutrients your body needs going to the right place, your blood vessels only move in one direction. Arteries carry blood from the heart to different parts of the body, and your veins carry that depleted blood back to the heart.

Poor Circulation comes about when aspects of your health begin to slow or impede this process. Most vascular care works to repair this process. That’s why we prioritize identifying signs of poor circulation and then making changes or pursuing surgical intervention to correct the issue!

Signs of Poor Circulation

There are a few signs of poor circulation to be on the lookout for. These include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Prolonged muscle soreness
  • Night Cramps
  • Skin Discoloration
  • Varicose Veins
  • Swelling

If you or a loved one are experiencing any symptoms listed above, consider reaching out to your primary care provider for a checkup.

Improving Your Circulation

When you turn to the incredible team at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center, you will be able to receive comprehensive vascular care, no matter the issues you are struggling with. Be it arterial disease, varicose veins, wound care, or a cosmetic procedure, the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center will have you covered.


As such, our clinic’s team cannot wait for the Northwest Arkansas Community to meet the new team members of the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center. Dr. Haney has, as his practice has grown, always prioritized his patients and the community they serve, and this expansion is no different. The new members of his team understand Dr. Haney’s legacy of community involvement, patient education, and concierge-level care. 

The Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center is excited to bring a new suite of cutting-edge services to the practice in Rogers, providing new avenues for expert treatment and service to the people of Rogers and nearby communities like Bentonville, Fayetteville, Lowell, and Springdale.

Conservative Care

Much of the stress we place upon our circulatory system is, with attention, easily improved. Though some patients don’t have a say in the matter, most people can radically improve their circulation with concerted care.

Here are a few activities you can do to keep your circulation healthy:

  • Avoid Smoking. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your vascular system, so our first piece of advice is to stop smoking immediately. Smoking contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries, meaning it’s a major risk factor for developing arterial disease and a decrease in quality of life.
  • Exercise. Exercising is a great way to improve vascular health, as it keeps blood flowing and prevents further plaque buildup. Walking and cardiovascular exercise are incredibly beneficial, but anything that elevates your heart rate is good. You should make a point of exercising once a day or as much as is feasible.
  • Eat Healthier. Diet is a major contributing factor to arterial disease. Foods high in cholesterol are a major cause of plaque buildup and increased blood pressure, so eating healthy is important in improving your health: more fruits and vegetables, less red meat, and dairy. You should also make sure to eat smaller portions in individual sittings to reduce stress on your circulatory system.
  • Lose Weight. This item is the most difficult. Being overweight can significantly strain your circulatory system, as it requires more work to move blood around your body. Losing weight is vital to improving circulatory function and overall vascular health.
  • Monitor Your Health. Routine health screenings and physicals are critical to maintaining your overall physical health but can be especially useful for identifying and mitigating arterial disease. Make sure to regularly check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to keep tabs on your arterial health!

Vascular Care

It’s important to remember that none of the above behaviors should replace consulting a healthcare provider or vascular specialist if you are worried about your vascular health.

Though at-home conservative care and behavioral adjustments are important aspects of how to improve your circulation, it’s smart to consult specialists. After all, conservative care can’t erase pre-existing plaque, simply prevent further unhealthy buildup and mitigate the potential worsening of symptoms. That’s why there’s so much value in professional peripheral artery disease care in Rogers.

how to improve your circulation

Consulting vascular professionals can help you to set informed, long-term treatment plans and medication regimens to mitigate the issue. This style of conservative care isn’t available purely through at-home lifestyle changes or behavioral adjustments. 

Medications like statins are vital for lowering cholesterol levels, a key factor in arterial disease, and require a prescription from a doctor or vascular surgeon.

Additionally, it’s worth discussing surgical or interventional care for improving your vascular health. These care alternatives are only available when consulting a vascular professional equipped with the resources to provide you with comprehensive care.

Turn to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center

So, if you’re wondering how to improve your circulation, the simplest answer is to come to the experts!

The Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center is the only practice in Northwest Arkansas that provides all the highest quality vein and artery treatments available. Dr. Haney, Dr. Stout, and the expert staff at the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center in Rogers have over 75 years of combined experience providing vascular care. People come to Dr. Haney from all over Northernwestern Arkansas, from Fayetteville to Bentonville, to ensure they receive the best concierge-level care and leg vein procedures available.

After all, helping people is what we do, and it is our mission to provide the people of Northwestern Arkansas and beyond with the absolute best care possible. Our expertise and focus on patient education help us to achieve tangible results every time. 

Take the first step on the road to recovery with our Virtual Vein & Artery Screening Tool or by scheduling a consultation.

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