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Red Light Therapy for Blood Flow: Know the Benefits and Facts

In this article, our team of experts has taken the time to explain healthy blood circulation and the role that light therapy plays in ensuring that you experience optimal, healthy blood flow.

RedlightTherapyDigest Staff By RLTD Staff Updated March 12, 2024
Medically reviewed Medically reviewed by: Carmen Castilla, MD
Advertising Disclosure: Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; we may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. You can learn more about our review process here.

Overview

Healthy blood flow or blood circulation is crucial for healthy body functioning. Weak circulation is regarded as one of the most common health problems and has been linked to a variety of medical conditions including chronic ones. It may lead to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease among other conditions.

Also, since blood cells carry oxygen and travel around the body constantly, it helps in wound healing. Without this, wounds and injuries will not recover properly or take time to recover, hence leading to extended chronic problems.

Red Therapy Researcher, Janis T. Eells, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee says that red light therapy can deliberately be used as a type of phomedicine for healing and enhancing the body’s overall health. That by exposing a body area to the light, it enhances proper blood flow in the body thus stimulating the body cells to perform at a higher level.

Proper circulation is, therefore, one of the essential ingredients that define a healthy lifestyle and red-light therapy for blood flow ensures improved blood flow for a better balance and optimal health. It is a non-invasive treatment method that gets the human body treated on the cellular levels, hence working from the inside out.

Read on to learn more about what red therapy is, how it works to enhance blood flow in the body, and any other crucial health information you need to know about the device.

Can Red Light Therapy Help Improve Blood Flow?

Red light therapy treatment has been regarded as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle because of its ability to effectively enhance cellular function by improving circulation in the body. Various studies have shown that proper circulation ensures that the body tissues receive enough oxygen as well as other nutrients crucial for healing. Besides healthy circulation, red light therapy also helps the circulatory system and the body to get rid of toxic byproducts.

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How Red Light Therapy Works to Improve Blood Flow?

Treatment involving the use of red-light therapy for blood flow usually involves the emission of low-wavelength red and near-infrared through the skin, which then stimulates cellular rejuvenation and healing.

According to Casey Kelley, M.D., founder and medical of Case Integrative Health, red light therapy works by triggering mitochondria (body cell powerhouse) which then boosts the cell’s energy center, hence getting the cells to do their jobs including efficient growth and healing. In other words and as we documented in our content for Light Relief Infrared Pain Relief Device Review, red light therapy enables your body cells to wake up and gets the body functioning.

Red light therapy for blood flow will give you quick results if you combine the treatment with a sleeping routine, healthy diet, and exercise as these things speed up the body’s natural healing process. Proper circulation ensures adequate movement of red blood cells in the body, hence giving problematic areas of the body enough oxygen while pushing out toxins. Since low-wavelength light and heat promote rejuvenation and affect the body on a cellular level, body exposure to red light for 10-minute sessions every day can boost your body’s internal functions.

We also covered in the iRED USA Review, that this device also helps to improve blood circulation by maintaining the red and infrared light that maintains a good blood flow into the body.

how does red light therapy work for blood flowDoes Red Light Therapy Work for Blood Flow

What Do Scientific Studies Say About Red Light Therapy And Blood Flow?

Health experts say that there is growing scientific evidence that red light therapy can effectively improve the body’s overall health and well-being by simply improving blood flow. Below are some of the findings by researchers on how red-light therapy works to improve blood flow.

  • A research study conducted to establish the effect of red-light therapy treatment on peripheral artery disease was published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine. The findings showed that red light therapy treatment can stimulate vasodilation in diabetic and healthy blood vessels.
  • Similar research was carried out to establish if red light (670nm) can facilitate vasodilation through an endothelium-derived vasoactive species containing a functional group capable of reducing nitric oxide published in Frontiers in Physiology. The results of the study indicate that 670 nm red light was found to regulate conduit vessel dilation.
  • Another study in Experimental Biology and Medicine notes that there is increasing evidence suggesting that non-invasive far-infrared rays are a vital form of physiotherapy, found to improve the health of individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus.
  • A research study published in Development Medicine shows that there is evidence that the use of red-light therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect and can effectively increase perfusion of the skin, making it an ideal candidate for enhancing skin blood flow.
  • Since sufficient blood circulation is crucial for wound healing, a study was carried out to investigate the efficiency of red-light therapy in chronic wound healing in diabetic and non-diabetic patients as published in Lasers Medicine Science. Results show that there was a significant increase in blood flow supply in patients treated with red light compared to controlled groups. There was also a significant improvement in wound healing in patients treated using red light therapy.
  • A study was carried out to establish the response of cells to variable influences of red light and NIR laser as published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. Results indicate that red light therapy of about 600 nm to 760 nm and near-infrared at wavelength of 780 nm to 1000 nm can effectively influence a number of activities in living cells.

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What Side Effects Should You Expect?

Erum Ilyas M.D. a Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist, Schweiger Dermatology Group, and Elaine F. Kung, M.D., a founder of Future Bright Dermatology in New York and assistant clinical professor at Weill-Cornell Medical College say that major side effects of red light therapy are rare. However, Debra Jaliman M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York warns that individuals on medications who usually become photosensitive should avoid red light therapy treatment. Pregnant women should also stay away from red light therapy treatment because its safety in relation to pregnancy has not been exhaustively studied, says Casey Kelley, M.D., founder and medical of Case Integrative Health.

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Is It Worth It?

Yes, red light therapy for blood flow devices is worth investing in your money and time. As we noted in our content for Celluma PRO Review, there is research-based evidence that red light therapy offers several health benefits to the body including increased blood flow and circulation because of its ability to bring more cell activity to the target area. According to health experts, if your body is healthy, then red light therapy will definitely help it stay in that state.

Frequently Ask Questions

Q: What Specs Should I Consider in a Blood Flow Support Red-Light Device?

A: There are a number of things to put into consideration before investing your money and time in red light therapy for blood flow devices.

Consider Safety
According to experts, there is evidence that red light therapy devices can affect body cells just like the way they kill bacteria. There are also high chances of it causing mutations leading to health problems like skin cancer. The device can also lead to irreversible blindness. So, health experts advise selecting devices with safety switches that can automatically turn off the buttons to halt light emissions once direct exposure-related risk is detected.

Product Legitimacy
This is important because the market is flooded with counterfeit UVC consumer products and most of them come with myriad health risks. So, unless the device you have at home measures wavelength it is not possible to distinguish UVC rays’ products from UV rays ones. Most legit devices are usually third-party tested and FDA-approved and, therefore, safe to add to your health regimen.

Amount of LEDs
Experts note that a device containing more LED lights can effectively increase device efficiency and reduce treatment time compared to that with fewer LEDs.

Light intensity and radiance
Low-powered red-light therapy devices do not produce enough red-light energy that can offer optimal health benefits. However, devices with lighter intensity have been found to take less time to absorb, making them more efficient during therapy sessions.

Q: Should I Expect Immediate Results in My Blood Flow After Red Light Therapy?

A: There is no guarantee that you will experience results sooner. However, some conditions like pain and inflammation may not be seen but you are able to feel changes from the first treatment. According to a publication in Hellen Tylor Aesthetic and Wellness Clinic like many other therapeutic approaches, you will be required to undergo multiple red light therapy sessions in order to achieve the long-lasting results you are looking for. Also, how you can experience results depends on what you are treating. It takes typically about one month to start seeing the health benefits of the therapy. So, for optimal results, it is recommended that you use the red-light therapy treatment for at least 4 weeks to be able to experience real and lasting results. Just stick to the treatment and don’t give up. Sooner or later, you will start seeing remarkable health improvement.

Conclusion

Blood flow is a vital activity in the body as it determines how the entire body system works. Without proper circulation, weak or slow blood circulation can lead to oxygen deficiency in different parts of the body. It may also lead to pale skin pigmentation, sore muscles, numbness, slow wound healing, and weak blood clotting among other health issues.

Red light therapy treatment has been designed to ensure that there is consistent proper blood flow in the entire body and that you don’t suffer from these preventable health conditions. Accompanied by a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good stress coping mechanisms you will be able to prevent a number of health conditions including chronic ones like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, slow wound healing, and much more.

The insights shared in this article shed light on red light therapy’s potential to elevate blood flow and address various health concerns. If you’ve been contemplating ways to enhance blood circulation and overall health, a red-light therapy device coupled with the expertise at Perspire Sauna Studio might just be the missing piece in your journey to a quality, disease-free life.

Furthermore, Andrew Huberman’s Red Light Therapy research has shed light on the potential of red light therapy to enhance cellular function and promote overall well-being through improved blood flow.

By Carmen Castilla, MD

Carmen Castilla, M.D. is a Manhattan-based, board-certified dermatologist specializing in personalized treatment plans in both cosmetic and medical dermatology.

**This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our estimation of efficacy.

*Result may vary. The information contained in this website is provided for general informational purposes only. No medical claims are implied in this content, and the information herein is not intended be used for self diagnosis or self treatment of any condition.

Disclosure of Material connection: Some of the links in the post above are "associate sales links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we will receive commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services which we use personally and/or believe will add value to our readers. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials."

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