How Massage Therapy can Help Reduce High Blood Pressure

A few weeks ago we learnt how regular massage therapy can improve blood circulation. Today I will focus on another aspect related to the circulatory system: how massage reduces hypertension and lowers blood pressure.

Smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, bad eating habits, stress, overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are all factors that have been associated with high blood pressure.

However, hypertension has more misconceptions than many other medical conditions. Some of them are:

• High blood pressure is not a big deal. The fact is high blood pressure can lead to damage of your blood vessels, kidneys, heart and other organs.
• It cannot be prevented. During the early stages, one may not notice the symptoms. It is therefore recommendable to prevent any worsening of the condition by eating a healthy diet, limiting salt and alcohol consumption, getting regular exercise, keeping your weight at a healthy level, etc.
• Cholesterol matters more than blood pressure. High blood pressure puts stress on our blood vessels and makes it easier for the ‘bad’ cholesterol particles to penetrate the inner lining of our vessel walls, where they accumulate and create a blockage that could eventually lead to heart attacks and strokes.
• A bad headache could mean your high blood pressure is about to bring along a stroke. It is true that when you experience any pain, your body’s normal adrenaline response leads to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, but the fact is that you cannot feel blood pressure and that a bad headache does not mean that you are about to have a stroke.

High blood pressure can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop. If unnoticed or uncontrolled, it can lead to other health problems such as disabilities, poor quality of life or even fatal heart attacks or strokes.

According to the European Heart Network, each year cardiovascular disease causes over 4.3 million deaths in Europe, nearly half of all deaths. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of death in most developed countries.

Fortunately, natural remedies and lifestyle changes can help you control high blood pressure and reduce stress and the risk of life-threatening complications.  Adults with hypertension should aim to reduce their stress level in order to prevent rises in blood pressure. Massage therapy can actually help to reduce blood pressure in the long-term. However, massages increase blood flow, so it is advisable that you visit your doctor first to check your conditions and get the clear.

Several studies have been conducted in order to find an answer to the question on whether massage therapy helps reduce high blood pressure or not. In fact, research proves that massage therapy actually provides relief in terms of hypertension as well as various other health disorders.

A study carried by the University of South Florida in 2005 showed that patients suffering from hypertension who received 10 massages of 10 minutes each over a three week period had significant improvements in their blood pressure compared to a control group who simply rested in the same environment without receiving any massages.

Moreover, as we seen in the post dedicated to blood circulation, people affected by circulatory problems and high blood pressure can get many benefits thanks to regular massage treatment as well as experience how their nervous system improves by regulating blood pressure and reducing stress. Massages stimulate the brain, where oxytocin is release to help reduce heart rate.

In order to improve your blood pressure, it is important, as I said at the beginning, to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including quitting smoking, following a diet that is low in fat, salt and cholesterol, and getting regular exercise. I would like to include a link to