Point of view: August 2008

Circulatory problems do not begin in a day. In other words, you could call the heart a very patient organ, which can take years of abuse and when it cannot take it anymore, breaks out in to early symptoms.

At the outset, we need to remember that poor circulation is an outcome of certain lifestyle choices which we make which are detrimental to our health. Coupled with these are factors like imbalanced diet and lack of physical exercise. All these factors lead to fatty deposits on the arterial walls, which when hardened are called plaques. These plaques then block or create obstructions to the smooth passage of blood to and from the heart.

Plaques take a long time to be formed; that is the reason, we find circulatory problems affecting the elderly more often than they affect children. Our food habits also add to an unhealthy build up of cholesterol which may increase the viscosity of the blood, which again creates anomaly in the smooth flow through arteries and veins.

Since the circulatory system covers our entire body, the problems can also be manifested in numerous ways. For instance:

Brain - Our brain receives 20% of the blood circulated in our body. With a drop in the flow, our brain functions sub-optimally, resulting in feeling lethargic, loss of memory, lack of mental clarity, etc. Frequent unexplained headaches and sudden attacks of dizziness are also seen as symptoms of poor blood circulation to the brain.

Heart - When poor blood circulation affects the heart, the symptoms would be chest pain, high blood pressure and rise in the level of cholesterol. Difficulty in performing any common task like climbing stairs, walking a stretch could make you very tired and breathless.

Liver - When you suffer from lack of appetite or experience sudden weight loss and your skin looks luster-less, it is quite possible that your liver is getting 'sluggish' and these are the early symptoms of poor blood circulation to the liver.

Kidneys - This organ plays an important role in regulating and monitoring our blood pressure other than eliminating the waste and excess water from our bodies. When poor blood circulation affects the kidneys, we notice swelling of hands, feet and ankles, rise in blood pressure, altered heart rate and we feel tired all the time.

Limbs - Poor blood circulation can have serious impact on our arms and legs. We can experience sudden numbness of our hands, feet and fingers or suffer painful leg cramps. Symptoms of serious blood circulation problems can be varicose veins or a condition called cyanosis - which is when part of our skin turns blue or black due to lack of adequate oxygen to the concerned tissues.

Sex Drive - Poor blood circulation can affect our reproductive organs as well. The symptoms are lack of sex drive and fatigue. Symptoms would also include lack of vitality also. Serious blood circulation problems could make one impotent also.

24 Ways to Get the Kinks Out

Maybe you have a boss, or a brother-in-law, whom you describe as a pain in the neck. But when it comes to neck pain, the blame—as well as the pain—is probably resting on your shoulders.

"It's keeping your head in an awkward position—that is, pushed forward with your ears in front of your shoulders—for a long time that makes your neck hurt," says Joanne Griffin, senior physical therapist and inpatient headache treatment therapist at the New England Center for Headache at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. "That's what many people who have neck problems are doing."

Naturally, some people—because of their occupations—are more at risk than others. "Beauticians, for example, work in a bent-over position all day long," says Robert Kunkel, M.D., head of the Section of Headache in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Regardless of your job or lifestyle, you can rid yourself of blame—and more importantly, pain—by applying a few time-tested methods, replacing bad habits with good ones, and giving your neck regular exercise. So keep your head up and your eyes open. Help is on the way.

Ice down. An ice pack or ice wrapped in a towel is a good choice when stiffness is just settling in, Griffin says. If your neck has been slightly injured, ice can help hold down swelling.

Heat up. After ice has reduced any inflammation, heat is a wonderful soother—be it from a heating pad or a hot shower.

Use a heat rub. These over-the-counter ointments are soothing but have no real healing effect because they don't really penetrate the skin's surface, says Steve Antonopulos, head athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos football team. Never use them with heating pads, he adds. At best they provide "psychological benefit."

Exercise Away Neck Pain

Yes, even your neck muscles need to be stretched and strengthened. Here are some exercises to combat stiffness and prevent problems in the future. Do each five times twice a day. Do the first three exercises for two weeks before starting the rest.

Slowly tilt your head forward as far as possible. Then move your head backward as far as possible.
Tilt your head toward your shoulder, while keeping your shoulder stationary. Straighten, then lean toward the other shoulder.
Slowly turn your head from side to side as far as possible.
Place your hand on one side of your head while you push toward it with your head. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat three times. Then do the same exercise on the other side.
Do basically the same exercise as above, only provide slight resistance to the front of your head while you push your head forward. Then provide slight resistance to the back of your head while you push your head backward.
Hold light weights—say 3 to 5 pounds—in your hands while shrugging your shoulders. Keep your arms straight.

Take the old standby. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as aspirin or ibuprofen will help reduce pain and inflammation. Take two pills three or four times a day.

Sit in a firm chair. Like the song says, the backbone is connected to the neck bone. And if you sit in a chair that doesn't give you good back support, you increase your chances of worsening existing neck problems and causing new ones, says Mitchell A. Price, D.C., a chiropractor in Temple, Pennsylvania.

Throw in the towel. Actually, roll a towel up and place it against the small of your back when sitting—it will better align your spine and give you additional support, says Griffin.

Take a break. Just as the feet need rest from constant standing, the neck needs a rest from constant sitting. Your head weighs approximately 8 pounds, Griffin says, and that's a lot of weight for the neck to support without much help from the rest of your body. So periodically stand up and walk around.

Keep your chin up. Keep your head level but pull your chin in as if you were making a double chin, says Griffin. Also avoid having your head lowered all the time when working at a desk or reading, she advises. This will prevent stressing the muscles in the back of the neck.

See eye to screen. If you work with a video display terminal all day, it's important to have it positioned at eye level. If you force yourself to look up or down hour after hour, you may cause your neck to spasm, says Price.

Reach out. And consider putting down the telephone. If you talk on the phone a lot, especially while trying to write, you've got your neck in an awkward position—an invitation to stiffness and pain.

Lift carefully. It's all too easy to forget there's a right way and a wrong way to lift heavy objects. The right way, says Price, is to bend your knees and hold your spine erect while positioning the object between your feet, which should be shoulder-width apart. When you lift the object, keep it as close to your body as possible.

Sleep on a firm mattress. A lot of neck problems begin, and worsen, with poor sleeping habits. Having a firm mattress is important, Price says.

Don't fight with your pillow. Just toss it aside. "A lot of people with neck pain feel better sleeping flat—without a pillow," Dr. Kunkel says.

MEDICAL ALERT

Whiplash needs a Doctor's Care

If you have been in an auto accident and have severe neck pain afterward, you may have whiplash and should see a doctor, advises Mitchell A. Price, D.C. In the meantime, he suggests treating with ice instead of heat because heat could inflame the injured area.

As a general rule, persistent neck pain warrants professional medical evaluation. "It's extremely remote, but it's possible that neck pain could be a signal that there's a tumor on the spine," says physical therapist Joanne Griffin.

Or get a cervical pillow. These pillows, which can be bought for as little as $20 in discount stores, give the neck proper support, Price says.

Don't sleep on your stomach. This is not only bad for your back, but your neck, too, says Price.

Sleep like a baby. In other words, sleep in the fetal position—on your side with your knees up toward your chest, Price advises.

Wrap up. When it's cold and damp outside, you probably wear a hat. But you should cover your neck as well. The weather can aggravate neck stiffness and pain, Dr. Kunkel says.

Relax. Just being tense can tighten the muscles in your neck and put you in pain. If you're under a lot of pressure or feel tense a lot, learning relaxation techniques, such as meditation or progressive relaxation, can help. Also, audiotapes are available to teach you how to relax.