Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Increasing physical activity
• Method 2 of 3: Changing Your Lifestyle
• Method 3 of 3: Seeing a Doctor in Time
• Warnings

Do you often have chest pains, shortness of breath and headaches? Are you at high risk for a heart attack? Follow these tips to improve circulation throughout your body and reduce your risk of heart attack.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Increasing physical activity

1. 1 Walk regularly. Taking a walk after a meal can improve circulation and help the digestive system do its job. It is recommended that you walk for at least 30 minutes daily.
2. 2 Play sports whenever possible. Anything related to general fitness should improve circulation. When you exercise, try the following:
   • Cardio exercise. Swimming, cycling, sports games, etc. Aerobics improves heart function and blood vessel function.
   • Power training. Strength training (lifting weights) will help you build muscle mass, which in turn increases the efficiency of your cardiovascular and lymphatic circulation.
   • Spend 3-5 minutes stretching or doing a little exercise every hour. This is especially useful if you sit at your desk all day and use this warm-up opportunity. Try hand swings, toes, or slow jumping (so as not to increase your heart rate).
3. 3 Massage. Like sports, massage increases blood circulation by stimulating blood flow in soft tissues. Many studies point to the general effectiveness of massage in promoting healing.
   • Look online for information on what exercises you can do while sitting at your desk. This should help improve circulation if you cannot find the time to exercise properly.
4. 4 Put your feet up. This is a great way to improve circulation and relax at the same time. It also reduces the chances of varicose veins that are caused by high blood pressure or prolonged standing.

Method 2 of 3: Changing Your Lifestyle

1. 1 Eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy foods. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (found in fish oil, olive oil, nuts, and seeds). Stay away from overly processed foods high in sugar or salt and foods with unhealthy fats (saturated and trans fats).
2. 2 Drink it right. Drink enough water throughout the day so that your organs can freely produce energy and carry out their daily functions. It is not necessary to drink liters of water, but you should drink when you are thirsty. Try drinking warm water, as cold water constricts your veins.
   • Avoid caffeine. If you can't live without it, at least keep it to a minimum. For example, instead of two cups of coffee in the morning, drink one. If you buy coffee at a coffee shop, try switching to decaffeinated coffee or reducing the serving size.
   • Avoid alcohol and other sugary drinks. Lemonades and overly sugary drinks do not improve blood circulation and are extremely negative for overall health.
3. 3 Try taking a hot bath or other heat treatment. Soak in a warm bath (you can also use Epsom salts, which are rich in healing minerals) and relax for 20-30 minutes. Fill a bottle with hot water, cover if necessary to avoid burns, and keep your limbs warm to increase blood flow.
4. 4 Quit smoking, if applicable. Smoking is not only harmful to your health, but also affects your circulation. Nicotine is one of the leading causes of circulatory problems.
5. 5 Find a healthy outlet for stress. Over time, stress can have a negative effect on blood circulation in the body. Engage in guided stress-relieving activities such as sports, meditation, psychotherapy, etc.

Method 3 of 3: Seeing a Doctor in Time

1. 1 Determine your condition. Know when it is difficult for your body to pump blood. Signs that your circulation is far from ideal include:
   • Tingling sensation in hands and feet
   • Cold extremities (fingers and toes)
   • Bluish skin tone
   • Slow healing of wounds
2. 2 Talk with your doctor about using nutritional supplements to improve circulation. A doctor may prescribe or recommend certain supplements that, in healthy doses, can improve blood circulation.
   • One study shows that an over-the-counter dietary supplement consisting of green tea, astragalus, goji berry extract, Lactobacillus fermentum, the antioxidant ellagic acid, and other vitamins increases overall hematopoietic stem cell levels.

Warnings

• Don't overdo it with jumping. Exercises that are too intense can lead to breathlessness.