How to Improve Circulation of Oxygen to Brain

Oxygen helps your brain to function, but many of your daily activities or habits may inhibit circulation of blood, oxygen and other nutrients in your brain and throughout your cerebrospinal system. Aligning your spinal cord promotes delivery of oxygen to your brain, but holding any position for extend periods of time can hinder cerebral circulation.

A family walking on the beach. (Image: Getty Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images)

Stand Up

Stand up on both feet or just one foot. A study published by the Oxford University Press journal "Brain," reports that standing up activates cerebral circulation. The study found that standing with both feet together enhanced circulation in the anterior lobe and the right visual cortex in the brain. Standing on one foot increased circulation in the cerebellar anterior vermis and posterior lobe lateral cortex ipsilateral portions of the brain. Standing in tandem increased circulation in the visual association cortex, midbrain, aneterior and posterior vermis parts of the brain.

Walk

Walk for an immediate dose of oxygen for your brain. According to brain health information on The Franklin Institute's website, walking increases blood circulation and the amount of oxygen and glucose that reach the brain. Higher intensity exercises deliver oxygen and nutrients to other parts of your body, but low-intensity activity like walking effectively oxygenates your brain without expending oxygen on other parts of your body.

Exercise

Exercise to expand your blood vessels. According to the Society for Neuroscience, exercise improves blood circulation in the brain and aerobic exercise may improve cognitive functioning in humans. According to Dr. Michael Davis at the University of Texas Health Science Center, long-term exercise may promote new blood vessel growth that increases cerebral blood flow.