The heart pumps blood through the arteries, which branch into increasingly smaller blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. The veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart. Diseases and medical conditions that adversely affect the blood vessels can impede blood flow, leading to bad circulation. The symptoms of poor blood circulation typically reflect decreased delivery of oxygen to the tissues or a backup of blood in the venous system.
Cold Hands and Feet
Persistent coolness of the hands and feet generally indicates poor arterial blood flow. The hands and feet prove particularly susceptible to the effects of poor circulation because these areas are distant from the heart. Among older adults, cool hands and feet often signal underlying peripheral arterial disease, a condition marked by hardening and narrowing of the arteries associated with fat buildup. Inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis, can also cause cool hands and feet.
Claudication
Patients with poor arterial blood flow to the legs caused by peripheral arterial disease may experience a heavy, tired or painful sensation in the muscles with physical exertion. This symptom, known as claudication, most commonly affects the calves but may also involve the thighs and buttocks, notes the Cleveland Clinic. The discomfort of mild to moderate claudication characteristically resolves with rest. With progressive worsening of peripheral arterial disease, leg pain intensifies and occurs with increasing frequency.
Swelling of the Feet, Ankles and Lower Legs
Patients with poor venous circulation, or venous insufficiency, typically experience pooling of blood in the lower extremities, leading to swelling of the feet, ankles and lower legs. The swelling reflects leakage of fluid from the congested leg veins. Possible causes of venous insufficiency of the legs include obesity, blood clots, varicose veins and chronic inactivity.
Itchy Skin Rash
Poor venous circulation in the legs frequently leads to the development of the skin condition stasis dermatitis. The skin thins and takes on a brownish-red hue. Dryness develops along with intense itching, notes the American Academy of Dermatology. Persistent scratching may lead to sores and the development of a leathery appearance to the skin. The Academy estimates that stasis dermatitis affects 15 to 20 million adults older than age 50 in the United States, with a slight preponderance of women.
Leg Ulcers
Poor venous or arterial circulation can lead to the development of leg ulcers. Venous ulcers prove more common than arterial ulcers. Venous ulcers arise due to chronic venous insufficiency. Arterial leg ulcers typically occur in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
