Circulatory Problems and Disability

Circulatory problems, such as swollen feet, are very common among women with mobility impairments.

According to the preliminary findings of a study on the cost of secondary conditions among women with physical disabilities (n=443), the majority (60 percent) reported problems with circulation.

In a recent survey of secondary health conditions in 443 women with physical disabilities, 60 percent reported experiencing a limitation due to circulatory problems in the past 3 months. In fact, these problems ranked 5th in terms of severity on a list of 43 secondary and other health conditions.

Circulatory problems can be caused by a broad array of disorders such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, peripheral artery and venous system disorders, vasomotor instability, varicose veins, deep-vein thrombosis, blood clots, phlebitis, Raynaud's phenomenon, temporal arteritis as well as atherosclerosis. These disorders can create serious problems as secondary conditions among women with disabilities.

Poor circulation combined with immobility may put people more at risk for the development of bed sores.