Question 1

i am 5 months pregnant and my legs have been getting red & blotchy. could this be from poor blood circulation?

Accepted Answer

Increase circulation: The most common cause of this is that during pregnancy there is an increase in your blood circulation.  Many times there are small vlood vessels in the skin that become more open (dilated) and cause areas of the skin to appear red.  If you press on these areas you will usually see the area turn white (blanching).
There are other possible causes so you should have your OB physician evaluate this.

Question 2

is it possible for you to get bad circulation after pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Pregnancy can lead to varicose veins but does not cause arterial problems.

Question 3

at 5 weeks pregnant, is it normal to feel pressure or bad circulation when lying on your back?

Accepted Answer

Pregnant pressure: By pressure, I gather you meant your legs being swollen.  If you think about the location of the vein draining your leg, then imagine your steadily growing baby sitting on those veins draining your legs while you are lying on your back.  That is why you have to lie down on your side to roll your growing baby off of those veins to allow them to drain your legs without any inhibition.

Question 4

best way to fix poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

It Depends: It depends on the severity of the artery disease.  Short isolated lesions can be treated with endovascular techniques. Much more severe levels of disease in multiple arteries do better with surgery.

Question 5

what are common causes of poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

ASVD: Smoking, vasoconstriction, vasoocclusion, hypertension, drugs such as most stimulants, poor cardiac output leading to poor perfusion.

Question 6

how would you know if you have poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

Ankle Brachial Index: When interpreted by an experienced physician, the ankle brachial index (abi) along with toe pressures and arterial waveforms is the best noninvasive indicator  of poor circulation. In fact, decreased abi is a predictor of death, heart attack, and stroke and is a good way to identify people with vascular disease who may benefit from lifestyle change and medical treatment. See your doctor.

Question 7

what do you think i should do for poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

Complicated question: Poor? How do you know? Are there blockages? Spasm? Cold feet? Answer depends on underlying condition, .

Question 8

what are the health consequences of poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

Higher risk of death: Poor circulation, as defined by a decreased ankle brachial index (abi), a test easily performed in the office by your doctor, increases the risk of death, heart attack, and stroke. The good news is that once diagnosed, medical management and lifestyle changes can help. The most important lifestyle change is to quit smoking immediately.

Question 9

why do diabetics have poor circulation?

Accepted Answer

Clogged pipes: Think of diabetes as a vascular illness. It leads to plaque build up in your arteries which reduces blood flow. This leads to bad things like heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.

Question 10

can poor  circulation cause an embolism?

Accepted Answer

Sort of: Poor circulation is frequently caused by peripheral artery disease. In peripheral artery disease, the vessels  can have chunks of cholesterol like substance hanging from their walls. When one of these breaks off, it can cause an embolism. This is just one of many reasons why we treat peripheral disease.

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Doctor answers about:

Poor circulation while pregnant

A member asked:

I am 5 months pregnant and my legs have been getting red & blotchy. could this be from poor blood circulation?

A member asked:

Is it possible for you to get bad circulation after pregnancy?

A member asked:

At 5 weeks pregnant, is it normal to feel pressure or bad circulation when lying on your back?

A member asked:

Best way to fix poor circulation?

A member asked:

What are common causes of poor circulation?

A member asked:

How would you know if you have poor circulation?

A member asked:

What do you think i should do for poor circulation?

A member asked:

What are the health consequences of poor circulation?

A member asked:

Why do diabetics have poor circulation?

A member asked:

Can poor circulation cause an embolism?

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