Massage Therapy Improves Mental and Physical Health and Wellness
Megan Mendes
Hi everyone! I found this article on wiredprnews.com, by Kamala Wright, an MT in Florida. I found it to be very informative and wanted to pass it on to you all.
Cheers!
Massage Therapy Improves Mental and Physical Health and Wellness
2014-09-22 17:02:22 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Health & Fitness, Medical News, Press Releases)
09/22/2014 (press release: sheiladanzig) // Kamala Wright
Massage Therapy Improves Mental and Physical Health and Wellness
The mind and body are interconnected by hormones and neurotransmitters, which help us to effectively navigate our environments. When faced with the stresses of everyday life, the human body’s sympathetic nervous system is triggered to release cortisol, raise blood pressure, repress hunger and the need for elimination, and prepare the body for fight or flight. While this is a good thing in short bursts, chronic stress is very taxing on the body and also very common in our fast-paced and stressful world. If you do not take restorative steps to relieve stress, it takes a toll on your immune system and adrenal gland, can cause angry outbursts, anxiety, depression and lack of focus and motivation as well as high blood pressure, upset stomach, chest pain, and trouble sleeping. These are very common ailments and they are all related to mismanaged stress.
Integrating massage therapy into a regular health and wellness routine has been proven to improve mental and physical health, as well as improve attention, stress management, and outlook on life.
Integrating massage therapy into your life relieves stress and encourages the relaxation your body needs to recover and thrive. Clinical studies have shown that receiving a massage therapy session even for just thirty minutes can lower your heart rate, and cortisol and insulin levels significantly. Massage has been shown in studies to control stress hormone levels, and reduce depression, anxiety and hostility. It has also been shown to lower blood pressure, which significantly decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
Receiving a massage increases the release of endorphins in your brain, which creates dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters cause the body to relax and induce a sense of peace and wellbeing allowing your mind and body to restore and rejuvenate. This also improves your general mood, outlook on life, and ability to manage stressful situations.
Serotonin also acts as a pain reliever, which is one of the reasons massage therapy is useful in treating chronic pain. In fact studies have shown massage therapy to relieve pain in patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Chronic pain, back pain and stiff muscles are also common ailments caused by everyday wear and tear on our bodies, including remaining seated or standing for long periods of time. Massage therapy relaxes muscles and improves flexibility by increasing the flow of blood to the muscles of the body. This increased blood flow carries nutrients and oxygen to sore, strained, and tense muscles reducing swelling and stiffness and increasing their range of motion.
Visit Kamala Wright’s website www.edityourimage.com to learn more, or you can contact her directly at 305-505-9118 or edityourimage@aol.com.