One in four deaths in the U.S. is contributed to cardiovascular (heart) disease, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), making it the leading cause of death for Americans. In addition to the common risk factors: tobacco use, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, outside risk factors include anxiety and depression, according to the World Health Organization. Anxiety and depression have proven difficult to effectively manage with medications alone and there is an even greater need for safe and effective treatments.
Complimentary therapies, such as massage and acupuncture, have been shown to be beneficial for patients dealing with depression, stress, anxiety, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Other complimentary therapies include: meditation, tai chi and yoga.
“When stress is excessive, it can contribute to everything from high blood pressure, also called hypertension, to asthma to ulcers to irritable bowel syndrome,” said Ernesto L. Schiffrin, M.D., Ph.D., physician-in-chief at Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, and professor and vice chair of research for the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal.
Massage therapy can help heal the Heart, Body and Mind
Scientific studies have shown benefits of massage therapy for insomnia, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, cancer pain, post-operative recovery and other conditions.
In 2008, more than 260 volunteers received 45 to 60-minute massage and their average blood pressure fell by 10 mg HG and heart rate of 10 beats per minute after one treatment. That’s about as much as you’d get from prescribing a new blood pressure medication for life.
In another study, 50 people with mildly elevated blood pressure received a 15-minute massage, three times a week for 10 sessions, while a similar group just relaxed for the same amount of time. Blood pressure fell at the end of the session and remained lower for several days, but only in the massage group.
Eight women with high blood pressure received hour-long massages each week for four weeks. At the end of the four weeks, their blood pressure fell by 12 mm HG systolic and measurements in the blood reflecting inflammation feel significantly. The drop in markers of inflammation is intriguing and suggests massage therapy may have a body-wide healing effect.
Heart disease develops as a result of long-term, chronic stress and anxiety. Adrenaline and cortisol are stress hormones which are raised during stress and anxiety. These hormones cause an increase in the rate of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. This is known as the “fight or flight” response in your body. If you are under stress for days, weeks or years, this constant ramped up demand on the heart begins to cause serious damage. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack. Your body can also respond to stress with a headache, back strain or stomach pains. Stress zaps your energy, wreaks havoc on your sleep and can make you irritable, forgetful and unable to focus or feel overwhelmed.
Through research, massage has shown decreased vital signs associated with anxiety and a beneficial effect on blood pressure. Decades of research show that massage therapy is effective in lowering stress and blood pressure, which are contributors of heart disease..
People are encouraged to take care of their heart, as well as other areas of their physical and mental health, at any age. For people at higher risk of heart disease, those with family members with a history of heart disease, should be especially vigilant with their health care, as well as minimizing risk factors. Exercising, maintaining a healthy diet and positive attitude, not smoking, and not drinking too much coffee are also good ways to deal with stress, according to the American Heart Association.
At Moore Road MediSpa their caring professional staff is ready and able to help you de-stress, and take care of your heart, body and mind through their complimentary therapies. Call today and create healthy habits for quality of life to look and feel better.
Call Moore Road MediSpa today.
