{"id":38044,"date":"2019-11-22T12:04:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-22T20:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=38044"},"modified":"2021-11-03T02:05:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T09:05:43","slug":"15-ways-improve-brain-circulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/15-ways-improve-brain-circulation\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Natural Ways to Improve Brain Circulation and Function"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brain circulation (also called cerebral blood flow or blood flow to the brain) is very important for all aspects of brain function. Your brain depends critically on oxygen<\/a>, glucose<\/a>, and other nutrients that the blood brings. Poor brain circulation contributes to a range of physical and mental disorders and may greatly impair quality of life.<\/p>\n

Ensuring that you have good blood flow to the brain is critical for health and recovery from any chronic disease. Read this post to learn more about brain circulation and how to improve it.<\/p>\n

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Supplemental and nutritional therapies cannot treat a diagnosed cardiovascular (circulatory) condition. If you have one, make sure to follow your doctor\u2019s recommendations precisely.<\/em><\/p>\n

That said, some foods and supplements are known to improve brain circulation. While we strongly recommend against using any of these strategies in place of what your doctor recommends, some of them may be helpful alongside prescribed medication. Your doctor can help you determine which complementary strategies could be right for you.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>What Is Brain Circulation?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Brain circulation, or brain blood flow, is the movement of blood through the network of arteries and veins supplying blood to the brain. The arteries deliver oxygenated blood, glucose, and other nutrients to the brain. The veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, removing carbon dioxide, lactic acid<\/a>, and other metabolic products.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Why Is It Important?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The brain is the most important organ to receive the blood supply. Although it’s only 2% of your body weight, it consumes 50% of glucose and 20% of the oxygen that is available in the body [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In addition, the blood also removes waste from the brain. Lack of oxygen for merely minutes will start to kill brain cells.<\/p>\n

However, during most of the days, when we are upright, the brain is the highest part of the body with the smallest blood vessels that are furthest from the heart. This makes the brain a difficult organ to deliver blood to.<\/p>\n

Too little blood flow results in a lack of glucose and oxygen needed to keep neurons metabolically active, a condition known as ischemia<\/em>. Too much blood flow results in increased intracranial pressure, which may cause severe neurological damage in extreme cases.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the body has several checks and balances to ensure that the brain receives sufficient blood flow and oxygen [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Adults with normal blood pressure get about 50 ml of blood to 100 g of brain tissue per minute, which provides oxygen pressure to the brain at between 60-160 mmHg [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

If the oxygen pressure to the brain falls outside of this range, the brain loses its ability to maintain constant blood flow, so the blood flow strictly depends on the pressure within the arteries (mean arterial pressure) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

<\/a>Causes of Poor Brain Circulation<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/a>1) Low or High Blood Pressure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Some people have very low blood pressure due to low <\/strong>vasopressin<\/strong><\/a> (ADH) levels, so low blood flow to the brain is a major concern.<\/p>\n

Low blood pressure has been related to a risk of brain atrophy (loss of brain tissue). In a study examining patients with hardening of the arteries, those with lower blood pressure and less blood flow to the brain were more likely to have brain atrophy [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Note: In this study, low blood pressure was considered only systolic (the higher number) below 120.<\/p>\n

In some people with hypertension, the underlying cause is constriction of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction), which also reduces blood flow to the brain. Hormones like vasopressin and angiotensin II<\/strong><\/a> constrict the blood vessels and cause these effects [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Conversely, drugs that reduce the functions of these hormones, such as ACE-inhibitors (many blood pressure drugs) increase blood flow to the brain [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

High <\/strong>histamine<\/strong><\/a> or mast cell activation<\/strong> also causes low blood pressure because histamine is a vasodilator [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

It is therefore important to maintain healthy blood pressure in order to have good brain circulation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>2) Poor Overall Circulation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Factors that can cause poor circulation include:<\/p>\n