Massage Therapy for Heart Health -

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« Back	Post Date: Friday, February 14, 2020
Massage Therapy for Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. The good news is decades of research shows that massage therapy is effective in lowering stress and blood pressure, which are contributors of heart disease.

Research Says:

Massage has been shown to acutely reduce blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive women
Massage therapy may reduce stress significantly on both physical and psychological levels.
Researchers found that massage therapy may reduce pain, anxiety and muscular tension in cardiac surgery patients

Further More:

A good massage can stimulate the nerve endings in skin, release endorphins (the feel good hormones) and inhibit the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Blood will circulate more efficiently, blood pressure will drop and heart rates will slow down.

A regular massage regimen can reduce the risks associated with stress, such as cardiac arrhythmias (the heart pumps less effectively, so less blood reaches the brain and other vital organs). A number of long-term studies have shown that a consistent massage program can decrease diastolic and systolic blood pressure. And maintaining a healthy blood pressure can contribute to lowering the odds of one having a heart attack. Massage therapy releases contracted muscles and pushes venous blood towards the heart, easing the strain on the heart. In this way, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach for allowing the body to naturally heal itself.

Some suggest that massage therapy may move a patient’s nervous system from the sympathetic toward the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body for action (the fight-or-flight response), which ups the heart and breathing rate and causes blood vessels to narrow. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system creates a resting response characterized by a reduced heart and breathing rate and dilated blood vessels. An increasing number of research studies reveal that massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure and increases blood circulation.

For those who do not get enough physical exercise, a monthly massage is highly recommended. Keep in mind that the effects of regular massage are cumulative. If the goal is one of health maintenance, a massage every week or two can help one feel better and reduce tension and stress levels.

Ask us about on Massage therapy treatments at the Sport Centre and our In- Home Services.