There’s a reason why the most important aspect of something is often referred to as its “heart”. The heart is what keeps the entire body going. It keeps blood moving and oxygen circulating. It powers every organ and every muscle. The value of a healthy heart cannot be overstated.
With heart disease rates in Tucson on the rise, many people realize the serious implications of suffering heart health. There are numerous things you can do to improve the health of your heart and in turn, the health of your entire body. Massage can play a crucial, natural, non-invasive role in health maintenance.
Heart Disease In America
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and it effects men and women the same. It can occur at any age for a laundry list of reasons. Everyone is vulnerable to heart disease. Every 40 seconds, someone in America suffers from a heart attack.
Many things can contribute to the development of heart disease. Diet and exercise play important roles. Diabetes, obesity, and unmanaged high blood pressure can directly lead to heart disease. Even chronically high stress levels or low quality of sleep can act as contributing factors.
Diet And Exercise For A Healthy Heart
A healthy heart begins with eating a balanced diet low in cholesterol, fat, and sodium. Lean proteins, whole grains, and leafy greens will help to manage body weight. Removing harmful foods from the diet assures that the heart and body aren’t overburdened by things they cannot healthily or efficiently process.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a week. This can be split up into ten 15 minute long walks, one before work and one after work, for five days a week. All you need to do is set a little time aside to keep your heart and lungs healthy.
Massage To Improve Your Blood Pressure
Blood pressure and tension are invariably related. High blood pressure means that your blood has to work much harder to propel blood through your body. If you’re tense, swollen, or stressed, your body is full of counterpressure. It’s hard for your heart to work against you to keep your blood circulating, and as a result, your blood pressure raises.
Regular massage to eliminate stress, tension, and swelling’s effects on the body can help to take some of the burden off of your heart. Although it won’t replace eating a diet that’s healthier for your arteries, it will work in conjunction with such a diet to help reduce blood pressure and maintain a safer, lower level.
Massage To Improve Your Circulation
Accumulating too much fluid is bad for your heart. Some people with conditions like congestive heart failure directly experience the consequences of fluid buildup in the body. Massage works to improve the efficiency of your circulatory system, pushing away the fluid that causes swelling and clearing the muscles of the accumulation of their metabolic byproducts.
Tissue and lymphatic stimulation makes it easier for the body to rid itself of unnecessary fluid that has gathered in the extremities. Regular massage can help your body fully catch up, improving its own circulation and keeping your muscles nice and drained.
Massage To Help You Relax
Stress is a major contributing factor to heart disease. If you ever become so agitated that you find yourself saying “this is going to give me a heart attack!”, you may not be wrong. Managing stress levels is important for your overall wellbeing.
During a massage, the body is put into a deep state of relaxation. Massage should take place in a quiet, tranquil environment. In response to the stimulation of your muscles and tissues, your body releases a number of hormones and natural chemicals that help you feel good. Among these hormones is something called serotonin, which helps to promote mental wellbeing while dulling the sensation of aches and pains.
After a massage, most people report a higher quality of sleep and a better capacity for relaxation. The body rebalances itself, and you experience a slew of benefits from this rebalancing process. Your muscles are at ease, your mind is at ease, and it’s easier to take a deep breath and face the work or responsibilities of the next day.
Massage After Surgery
Hospitals sometimes provide massage services for post-surgery patients. These massages are a little different, notably less intense, than massages performed on healed or recovered patients. Massage helps to speed up the body’s ability to heal itself, reducing swelling and fluid buildup that sometimes occurs after surgery.
If you’ve recently had heart surgery or will have a scheduled heart procedure in the near future, ask your surgeon if massage therapy can become an important part of your recovery process.
Is Your Heart Ready For The Benefits Of Massage?
The massage therapists at Greentoes in Tucson work with all kinds of people. Some come in for a pampering massage, while others come in to utilize massage therapy for aches, pains, or their general health. Our skilled staff can provide a relaxing experience that will help improve your overall wellness, including the health of your heart.