Boost Your Heart Health With Massage Therapy in Jacksonville, FL

Massage Therapy: A Novel Way to Improve Heart Health

Every February, The American Heart Association conducts its "Go Red for Women" initiative, which coincides with February's American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women. While that might be scary, there are many ways to promote and maintain cardiovascular and heart health, including massage therapy.

Massage therapy might seem like an indulgence meant for special occasions, but the benefits of consistent massage therapy are endless. Massage is proven to increase your body and mind in a variety of ways, both physically and mentally. 

Massage Therapy Heart Benefits

Although getting a massage is an excellent way to implement self-care, it also has many health benefits, including many heart benefits. Here are just a few:
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• Lowers Blood Pressure: 70% of Americans will suffer from high blood pressure in their lifetime. High blood pressure damages organs and blood vessels. It can lead to heart attack and stroke. Massage therapy lowers high blood pressure by reducing muscle tension, increasing circulation, reducing stress, and more.

 

• Improves Blood Flow: Deep tissue massage breaks down knots and cleanses blocked areas, allowing increased blood flow with oxygen-rich blood. Improved blood flow allows the heart to work more efficiently. 

 

• Decreases Stress: Massage lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which raises blood pressure and heart rate while increasing glucose in the blood. Massage also raises serotonin and dopamine, often called the "feel good" hormones, due to their ability to raise happiness, calmness, and focus. 

 

•  Lowers Heart Rate: Massage causes deep relaxation, which triggers the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system induces the "rest and digest" response, which lowers your heart rate. A decreased heart rate allows your heart not to have to work as hard to pump blood. 

 

• Improved Endothelial Function: Endothelial cells make up the inner lining of blood vessels. Endothelial cells also produce nitric oxide, which helps widen and relax blood vessels and increases blood flow. This helps to regulate blood pressure and take pressure off of the heart. Massage therapy improves endothelial function, which is responsible for vascular tone, blood flow, immune cells, and adhesion. 

Recent Research Supporting Massage Therapy for Heart Health

Experts in medicine and science have long acknowledged the benefits of therapeutic massage. These benefits have been studied and documented, and some are still being discovered. Here are some recent studies supporting the benefits of massage therapy on heart health.
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• A long-term study on the effects of massage on blood pressure was conducted by the University of Isfahan in Iran. 50 women women with prehypertension were split into two groups: the control group and the massage group. The massage group received 15-minute massages three times a week. At the end of the study the women who received massages had significantly lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure compared to the control group. The study participants were evaluated three days later, and the group who had received massage continued to have lower blood pressure. 

 

• A study conducted by psychologists at the University of Konstanz showed physical and physiological relaxation via the parasympathetic nervous system after only ten minutes of massage. The study is groundbreaking for its implication of the relationship between relaxation and stress. 

 

• It is common knowledge that being an ICU (intensive care unit) nurse is stressful, making them perfect candidates for a massage therapy study. Researchers at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, conducted a study on the effects of Swedish massage on ICU nurses. The study consisted of 66 male and female nurses. The group was split into a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group received 25-minute Swedish massages twice a week for four weeks. At the end of the study, the occupational stress in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. 

Finding the Best Massage Therapist in Jacksonville, FL

If you or someone you know is concerned about their heart health, massage therapy can help. However, it is essential to research and choose a skilled massage therapist. 
The team at The Wellness Hub here in Jacksonville, FL is highly skilled and trained. Each licensed massage therapist has undergone extensive training and boasts ample experience. If you are interested in boosting your heart health through therapeutic massage, contact us today! 

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We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more.

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