Give The Heart What It Needs: Massage Benefits for Your Heart
Around Valentine’s Day, some tend to focus energy on what the heart wants in a metaphorical, romantic sense rather than focusing on what the heart physically needs—reduced stress, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. Since February is also American Heart Month, this is an ideal time to discuss the benefits of incorporating massage therapy into your healthy lifestyle to maintain heart health.
According to the CDC, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the US. Living with a heart condition can be challenging—making lifestyle changes, adjusting diet and exercise and monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure levels. This constant supervision can be stressful and create anxiety, especially for those who are just learning how to manage their condition.
Prioritizing time for relaxation and rejuvenation are some of the best ways to keep your heart and your mind healthy. Here are some of the rewarding benefits of massage that may help with cardiovascular health.
Massage May Improve Your Heart Rate
We all know the effects of stress on our minds—it’s a constant state of worry and panic. What many people don’t realize is that stress can impact the health of our hearts as well. As stated by the American Heart Association, stressful situations cause our bodies to release adrenaline, a hormone that temporarily causes our breathing and heart rate to speed up and our blood pressure to rise as a defense mechanism, preparing our bodies for the “flight or fight” response.
This constant mode of defense can overwork our hearts either leading to the chance of heart disease or worsening existing conditions. When the heart is pumping at such a high rate, it makes it more difficult to circulate blood throughout the body leading to high blood pressure and potential damage to the artery walls. Massage therapy focuses on releasing the tension developed by your body’s defensive response and works to bring you to a regulated and relaxed state. Massage for congestive heart failure can be a gentle way to assuage pain and improve blood flow. Not only do you feel less rigid and uncomfortable, but your heart is able to pump blood normally to the rest of your body.
Massage Can Improve Circulation
Most individuals with heart disease struggle with atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. The buildup of plaque narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can block the blood flow, leading to a potential heart attack or stroke. Although lifestyle changes such as an active workout routine or enhanced diet are the best ways to manage a heart condition, massage therapy is a great addition to consider.
With massage therapy, individuals with heart disease can take a deep breath and settle into relaxation. Massage therapy, particularly, Swedish Massage aids in circulation and blood flow with the use of long, gentle strokes. With improved circulation comes lower blood pressure, giving individuals a break from the regular high blood pressure they experience.
Although not a cure for heart disease, massage gives you the ability to prioritize your cardiovascular health and embrace a therapeutic and relaxed practice.
Women and Heart Disease
According to the CDC, “Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a man’s disease, almost as many women as men die each year of heart disease in the United States.” About 1 in 16 women over the age of 20 have coronary heart disease, the most common condition.
As we celebrate National Wear Red Day on February 2nd in honor of women with heart disease, check in with the women in your life to ensure they are keeping their heart health a priority.
As a business founded by women, we feel passionate about the health of women—our guests, our team and our community—and are honored to provide a space for healing and restoration.
Relax for Your Heart
As with any therapeutic procedure, it's important to consult your doctor and see if massage is right for you. A healthy heart needs relaxation and your overall well-being to thrive. Book your relaxing experience at Massage Studio to truly feel the benefits it brings to your cardiovascular system and give your heart what it needs!