Remember, the blood circulates, so let it do its thing!

"My feet have been swelling for the past few months, mostly in the evenings. I am really worried that it could be circulation!" My 55-year-old patient sticks out her legs to show me, pressing down her fingers around her ankles.

Most persons who come in with a concern about circulation are focused on what's going on with their legs, usually swelling or pain or some change in skin colour. But if we look at the heart of the matter, the blood circulates to every nook and cranny of the body and so circulation problems can be quite far-reaching!

Harvey's discovery

There was a time when it was thought that blood was produced directly from the food we eat, then used up in the tissue, and that the lungs were what moved it around the body. The heart was simply there to produce heat. I must say I like that model. It would have made my life much easier as a doctor! However, we now know better, thanks to an English physician by the name of William Harvey who in 1628, after a lot of study on animals and human beings, wrote that: "It must, therefore, be concluded that the blood in the animal body moves around in a circle continuously and that the action or function of the heart is to accomplish this by pumping."

Circulation in later years

As we get older, through a combination of disease and ageing, our network of blood vessels can develop various problems, leading to slowing down or stoppage in the flow of blood at different points. Poor or really bad circulation is involved in all of the following conditions which we see more commonly beyond 50: strokes; ischemic heart disease, which includes heart attacks; erectile dysfunction; blocked arteries and weak veins in the legs. There are more, but these are some of the big conditions you will hear about.

Traffic on Mount Rosser!

Imagine travelling the 150-mile journey from Kingston to Ocho Rios and back without ever stopping! That may be a joy for most, but I would certainly miss the corn at Faith's Pen! At many points, whether traffic lights, flat bridge, Mount Rosser or Chalky Hill, there will be either slowing down or full stoppage of traffic.

So here's a 'road' challenge for you! You have over 60,000 miles of blood vessels (large and small) in your body. If the flow of blood slows down or stops at any point along the way, then it spells trouble.

Let your blood circulate!

In the same way the North-South highway from Kingston to Ochi is a priority to help free up traffic flow, we must do all we can to keep our blood circulating through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels.

Here are some tips to start with:

Drink water throughout the day

Strive for and maintain a healthy weight

Know your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels and get them to target sooner not later

Walk regularly to where you are going, if possible, but also for the fun and challenge.

Overall, go work with your doctor and keep your personal highways running free! Remember, the blood circulates, so you must let it do its thing!

Dr Tomlin Paul is a family physician at Health Plus Associates in Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com