The weather we’ve seen through the past couple months might make it a more favorable year than most, but it should still be a chilly time at the 12th Annual Bloomington Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1! Participants might feel like their blood is freezing solid, but a run into the waters of Fairfax Beach should actually get those heart rates up! We’re not saying you should become a polar bear plunger if you want to fight poor circulation peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but a more active lifestyle can certainly help.
For many with PAD, getting active can be a painful proposition. This is due to intermittent claudication, a cramping sensation in the legs when they don’t receive enough oxygen from the blood to keep up with demand. However, although the pain might make you think it’s best to stop, the situation will actually improve as you continue a program. Your body begins to adjust to working with less oxygen from your narrowed blood vessels and adapts to what it gets. How amazing is that?
You don’t even have to engage in serious cardio to start improving. An organized walking program has been shown to be effective in many suffering from PAD. It might take some patience, but gradually you’ll be able to travel longer distances without pain cutting the trip short. The keys are to take it steady and not become frustrated with yourself. It’ll be worth it, we swear!
There are other lifestyle changes one can make to fight back against the effects of peripheral arterial disease, such as quitting smoking and controlling cholesterol. For more advice on how to improve the health and comfort of your feet with poor circulation, contact the office of Dr. Kevin Powers at (812) 333-4422 or fill out our contact form. We’d be happy to take the plunge with you!
