You are certainly aware of your
primary heart and how it pumps blood through your body.
But did you know that your body has a
second heart? It’s your calf muscles!
Many specialists refer to the calf
muscle as “the secondary heart” because it plays a crucial role in our body’s
circulatory system. Keep reading and learn more about what your second heart
does, and how to take good care of it.
What Does Your Calf Muscle Do?
Your calf muscle, which is located at
the back of your lower leg, pumps blood out of your leg and back to your heart,
eliminating toxins through the lungs, kidneys, and liver along the way.
The heart, which is the main part of
your circulatory system, delivers blood to every part of your body. This
oxygen-rich blood flow contains oxygen and other nutrients that are essential
to your brain and other vital organs.
One heart pump has enough power to
send blood to every part of the body, reaching your lower legs in seconds. Once
the blood has reached every part of the body, the veins have to carry the
oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart, and through the lungs where it will
receive a supply of oxygen.
However, since the blood is flowing
against gravity, sending it towards the heart will take more than a single pump
from the heart. For this reason, the body uses the calf muscles to pump blood
from your lower legs back to the heart.
The best way to improve circulation
is to get moving. Every time the calf muscles contract, it helps blood to flow
against gravity. If you don’t move for long periods, blood and toxins will
collect in your lower legs and cause swelling.
Blood Clots
Deep vein thrombosis or DVT occurs
when blood pools in one or more of the deep veins in your body, and forms a
clot. This tends to occur in the lower legs and usually causes leg pain or
swelling.
Symptoms
Deep vein thrombosis signs and
symptoms can include:
- Swelling in the affected
area
- Chronic leg pain
- Reddish or bluish
discoloration on the leg
- A feeling of warmth and
soreness in the affected leg
- Fatigue
Compression Socks
Compression socks are effective in
preventing and relieving some of the symptoms of DVT.
They consist of stretchy stockings
that gently squeeze the leg, push fluid up, and improve circulation.
Strengthen Your “Second Heart”
If you are at risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis, stay active! Walking, biking, and doing standing calf raises can help you prevent dangerous blood clots and DVT. The important thing is to get moving.
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