Blood Pressure & Massage
This month is National Blood Pressure Month. Managing blood pressure is important to heart health. Knowing the numbers helps us to make the necessary mental and physical changes to improve our sense of wellness. While certain conditions may increase the risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension, mismanagement of lifestyle choices are the main cause. Many do not know they have it, so measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know you have high blood pressure. A relaxing Swedish massage can assist in managing and lowering blood pressure.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the artery walls while blood flows through the arteries. The pressure measured when the heart contracts and sends blood out of the heart is systolic (highest) blood pressure. The pressure measured when the heart dilates is diastolic (lowest) blood pressure. Both the systolic and diastolic are necessary to evaluate the status of one's blood pressure.
Why Measure Your Blood Pressure?
Among today's health issues, those associated with high blood pressure are common. High blood pressure dangerously correlates with cardiovascular disease. So monitoring blood pressure is important for identifying those at risk. To get a better understanding of blood pressure reading, it is a good idea to take the average of several readings that have been measured under similar conditions.
Why Massage?
Massage helps people get into a more relaxed state. When the mind is relaxed, the nervous system will not increase pressure on blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to the muscles, which in turn causes them to tense up. 'Not knowing' how to relax is an indicator that one has been in 'fight or flight' for a prolonged period of time without giving the mind and body the time it needs to relieve mental pressure. Aside from getting lymph flowing, regulating breath and calming the mind are ripe conditions for lowering blood pressure. It is important to note, that some people who are not accustomed to touch as a form of healing or who have not been touched regularly by loved ones need a little extra attention with simple breathing exercises and redirecting the mind to think about relaxing things. If one is thinking about problems on the massage table or is analyzing the massage and not actually experiencing or receiving it, they are in beta wave state, which is the thinking mind and on high alert, which is counterproductive to any type of massage intended for relaxation.
If you would like to have your blood pressure measured before and after every massage session, I am happy to assist you! I now have a blood pressure monitor on hand and will include this in every session upon request for no extra charge.
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