Many people are well aware that massage therapy can have a positive impact on numerous systems within our bodies, and a great example here is the heart. Heart health is connected to many other systems and areas of the body, and massage therapy helps with several of these in ways that are often highly beneficial for overall heart health themes.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're proud to offer a wide range of massage therapy techniques to clients in Lehi and Orem, from Swedish massage to trigger point therapy, sports massage and many others. Let's look at some of the broad benefits of using massage for those who want to maintain quality heart health, plus some of the more common massage techniques that may provide these benefits.
Circulation is a huge part of overall heart health, playing a role in everything from oxygenated blood flow to the delivery of nutrients and hormones. Massage therapy can have a direct, positive impact on circulation thanks to the relaxation response it creates, which helps open up vessels and other channels responsible for carrying these substances throughout the body.
This is enormously beneficial to many patients - circulation is a common problem that can result from things like stress, poor diet, or even injuries. Massage helps reset these channels and allows the body to re-establish its natural rhythms.
The relaxation response mentioned above can benefit heart health in another key way - reducing stress levels. High levels of stress have been linked to many conditions that affect heart health, from high blood pressure to coronary artery disease. Massage provides an excellent way to de-stress, with all the changes in circulation and hormones that come along with it.
In addition, many of our massage therapy options also provide a sense of emotional well-being that can be beneficial for anyone struggling with anxiety or depression - two conditions which may have significant impacts on heart health as well.
Another key facet of heart health is maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure. Massage can help lower both systolic and diastolic readings, especially when targeting areas of the body that are responsible for regulating these measurements. Techniques such as Swedish massage or trigger point therapy have been known to be particularly effective in this regard.
Down related lines, massage can also help slow down a person's heart rate when needed. This can be especially beneficial if the patient is dealing with hypertension or other conditions that cause an elevated pulse, as a slower heart rate can lead to lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular function overall.
In addition, slowing the heart rate means that the body has more time to relax between beats, allowing the body's natural healing and relaxation processes to kick in. This can further contribute to improved heart health over time.
While this isn't meant as an exhaustive list, here are a few of the techniques that tend to be most effective in bringing these benefits to patients:
It's important that we're clear when it comes to massage therapy and its relationship to heart health - while massage can certainly be beneficial, it should never be seen as a replacement for other medical treatments or approaches. Massage is best used in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise routine, and any other treatments that may be recommended by your doctor.
Ultimately, massage can provide some excellent benefits when it comes to improving heart health - however, it's important to remember that any medical decisions should always be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. Doing so can help ensure that you get the best possible outcomes and stay healthy for years to come.
For more here, or to learn about any of our massage therapy or float therapy solutions for clients in Lehi, Orem and nearby areas, speak to our team at Body Balance Massage and Float today.