Good Feet: Circulation and the Foot
July 19th, 2008Circulation and the Foot
Gravity does its best to pull the blood to the feet, but it is not ensuring a return trip. Because, in the human body, the major foot arteries are the farthest away from the heart, many circulatory problems will first display themselves in the feet.
The arteries carry blood away from the heart and the veins carry blood returning to the heart and lungs for regeneration - for nutrients and oxygen - after the blood’s supply of oxygen has been used up to nourish the tissues of the body.
There are two main arteries that supply the feet with the essential blood supply: the dorsalis pedis artery and the posterior tibial artery. These two major arteries distribute oxygenated blood through smaller arterioles to the many tissues of the feet. Healthy arteries have thick walls that are strong and elastic. To accommodate the pressure created by the pumping of the heart, they must stretch with each heartbeat.
Reduced blood-flow to a part of the body means that the muscles may become oxygen-deficient. Some symptoms of oxygen-deficiency are a cramping pain in the calf and lower leg. At the same time the feet may become cold. (Though not all muscle cramps should be interpreted as a sign of cardiovascular disease, if you suspect a problem seek medical advice.) Sometimes a person with a circulatory problem will develop thick and brittle toenails.
From this site: http://www.footcaredirect.com/circulation.html