The Feet & Heart Connection – Feet our second heart!

YOUR “FOOT BEAT”

Your heart is a muscle that works to pump blood throughout your body, with our blood being responsible for bringing oxygen and nutrients to all the cells in your body. Once this blood has delivered the nutrients, it needs to return to the heart to be re-oxygenated in the lungs and then cycle through the heart again. This return of the blood to the heart is referred to as venous return, which is activated by our built-in “second heart” in our feet. The simple act of moving the ankle up and down, such as when we walk, activates our calf pump and it pushes the blood back up to the heart.  

IMPACT OF VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Sometimes due to medical reasons or inactivity, this return of venous blood is insufficient and can cause a blood volume deficiency leading to impaired cardiac output and heart issues.  
This decreased cardiac output doesn’t just affect the heart itself but all parts of the body, including the feet.

 Symptoms include:

• swelling or oedema,
• varicose veins,
• discoloration of the skin,
• dry/ flaky or itchy skin on feet and lower legs,
• cracked / rough skin,
• peeling / fungal skin or nails and
• night-time leg cramps

HEART OVER HEELS APPROACH

For those that may be experiencing early signs of venous insufficiency or if you are looking to support healthy foot circulation then the below tips should be integrated into your routine.

Walk This Way
One of the best ways to support venous return is with movement, such as walking. The action of pushing off to take a step or to go upstairs forces our calves to contract and pushes the blood back up to our heart.

Try to fit in at least 5,000 steps a day if you can for optimal foot and heart health.

Foot & Leg Massage
Focused massage to the foot and lower leg can also support bringing blood back up to the heart. Specialised lymphatic massages are especially beneficial as these focus on the extracellular fluid which can cause oedema. If you are performing the massage always focus on upward motions that support the natural return of venous blood.  

Skin Health Counts Too!
An often-overlooked part of foot circulation health includes the skin and nails. Hydration is of utmost importance as it supports the natural barrier that the skin provides. 
Look for products that are pH balanced and do not contain any harsh ingredients.

We use and recommend products by Footlogix.  They are a great option for everyone, especially those with sensitive skin or circulation concerns as they contain a unique Dermal Infusion Technology which allows for fast absorption without occluding the skin or causing irritation. 

Professional Treatments

The Chi Room treatments include a Full or Mini Medi Pedicure.  Each treatment begins with an examination of your feet and lower leg to identify possible concerns.  Our full treatment includes a gentle exfoliation technique that will detox the skin whilst our massage is tailored to your needs for lymphatic drainage (in the case of oedema) and muscle stimulation and foot rotations to condition the foot and calf for improved condition. Our range of products is designed for intensive hydration and includes specialty products for a range of skin conditions.