Do you know that your calves actually act as your body’s “Second Heart”? This is biologically accurate and clinically significant.

Let me explain:

Two of the muscles in your calf, especially the gastrocnemius and soleus, that help your feet move forward, are often referred to as the “second heart”. This is because of the vital role these two muscles play during movement in circulating blood back to the heart!

Let’s see how this works.

Every time you walk by moving a step at a time, your calf muscles contract and relax. Your heart is the pump required to push or circulate blood. This is a very important point to note!!!

When it comes to the calves or lower legs, these contractions that happen when we walk act like a pump (just as your heart is). This then helps to push venous blood (blood in your veins) or blood returning to the heart upward against gravity. (Arteries carry blood away from the heart while your veins bring it to the heart). Remember that it’s easier to flow downward than upward!

Inside your veins are one-way valves that keep blood moving toward the heart (remember that your heart has valves too). The way your calf contractions squeeze your veins helps push blood up (with one-way valves).

This is essential and amazing because the lower legs are the furthest point from the heart. This is very obvious for us to see.

It’s important that we understand that blood returning from there can pool (collect or stagnate) if it’s not actively moved. That’s why walking is IMPORTANT!!!

Without enough movement, your blood can pool in the legs, leading to swelling, varicose veins, and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — blood clots. That’s why some suffer blood clots after long flights. I travelled to Zanzibar recently and because of the long flights my ankles were swollen for days. What did I do apart from raising them? I drank tea made from nettle, dandelion, green tea, and parsley to get rid of excess fluid. On my next flight to South Africa a few days later, I wore flight socks. The results were amazing — no swelling and I walked around more during that 11-hour flight. This is just to explain the importance of movement/walking.

Sadly, poor circulation can affect heart health, lymphatic drainage, and even brain function. That can be scary.

I’ll end with this: “Walking” is one of the most accessible and effective forms of exercise. It costs no money. When done regularly, it becomes a form of therapy for your circulation, metabolism, and emotions.

Start placing value on your calves from today.

Next week, I’ll share other health benefits of walking.

I am a retired pharmacist who’s now certified in Health & Wellness.

Website: http://www.Opeoluwaokulaja.com

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