How can I improve my circulation?

Hello Hayden Kennedy!

Thank you for sharing your question with the EmpowHER community! 

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing numbness in the night! It must be keeping you up when all you really want to do is sleep! 

Most likely you are experiencing numbness in the arms because not enough blood is reaching the extremities. Some of the reasons women have poor circulation is due to personal choices such as drinking alcohol in excess, smoking or consuming too much caffeine. 

More serious explanations can be from heart disease, Raynaud's disease, blood clots or diabetes. I certainly don't mean to alarm you, I'm sure it is from something as simple as drinking too much caffeine!

Exercise, lifestyle changes and an improved diet are great ways to increase the flow of blood to your outer extremities. Performing some simple range of motion exercises will increase circulation. Also wearing loose fitting clothes will help. Try massaging your arms before bed.

If these tips don't help, you can talk with your doctor about the condition and she what he or she can suggest. A blood test can check your cholesterol levels and a CT scan can check the condition of your blood vessels. High cholesterol levels, obesity and high blood pressure can be risks for getting arm artery disease.

Hayden Kennedy, I am sure that tweaking your caffeine intake and performing a few exercises and massaging your arms before bed will bring you some relief.

Give these tips a try and let me know if it helps!

Best,

Kristin