How Massage Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure raises the risk of having a heart attack or stroke 12.** To help control blood pressure, it is important to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors, including quitting smoking, eating a diet low in fat, salt and cholesterol and getting regular exercise. Finding ways to manage stress is also important, and complementary therapies such as massage may help. The first step is to speak with a health-care provider to make sure that massage is safe, based on personal health.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Identification
Blood pressure measures the force that blood places against the blood vessel walls as it is pumped through the body. It is recorded as a fraction, and the top number, or systolic pressure, measures the force created as the heart pumps. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, measures the force created when the heart is between beats. If the arteries become hard or narrow due to plaque buildup, the blood will have to squeeze through a smaller area, which will create more force against the blood vessel walls. If the body retains fluid due to too much salt intake or an underlying disease, this extra fluid can also increase the pressure inside the arteries. ').
- Blood pressure measures the force that blood places against the blood vessel walls as it is pumped through the body.
- The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, measures the force created when the heart is between beats.
Considerations
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While there is no scientific evidence linking stress directly to higher blood pressure, it is still important to learn to manage it. ')2. To fully manage high blood pressure, it is important to find time to relax, and this is where getting a massage may help.**
- While there is no scientific evidence linking stress directly to higher blood pressure, it is still important to learn to manage it. ')
Benefits
Massage can be deep or gentle. Getting a massage can lead to feelings of being cared for and taking charge of your health. Massage is relaxing to receive and can lower stress levels. For some patients, as stress levels go down, so does blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. In addition, massage can help to improve circulation, which may reduce any swelling or edema that is occurring alongside the high blood pressure. While much more research is needed to understand how massage effects blood pressure, it appears to help some patients when used as part of an overall plan.
- Massage can be deep or gentle.
- While much more research is needed to understand how massage effects blood pressure, it appears to help some patients when used as part of an overall plan.
Warnings
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Since massage can affect circulation, patients with high blood pressure or any kind of heart disease, should always check with a physician first 2. Massage should be avoided if blood clots are present or there is a risk of internal bleeding.** Massage should never cause pain or increase symptoms. For the best results, talk to the therapist before and during the session if there are any concerns or something does not feel right.
- Since massage can affect circulation, patients with high blood pressure or any kind of heart disease, should always check with a physician first 2.
- For the best results, talk to the therapist before and during the session if there are any concerns or something does not feel right.
Related Articles
References
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What Is High Blood Pressure?
- American Heart Association: Stress and High Blood Pressure
- MayoClinic.com: Massage: Get in Touch with its Many Health Benefits
- Supa'at I, Zakaria Z, Maskon O, Aminuddin A, Nordin NA. Effects of Swedish massage therapy on blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammatory markers in hypertensive women. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:171852. doi:10.1155/2013/171852
- Givi M. Durability of effect of massage therapy on blood pressure. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(5):511-6.
- Cambron JA, Dexheimer J, Coe P. Changes in blood pressure after various forms of therapeutic massage: a preliminary study. J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):65-70.
- Hur MH, Oh H, Lee MS, Kim C, Choi AN, Shin GR. Effects of aromatherapy massage on blood pressure and lipid profile in Korean climacteric women. Int J Neurosci. 2007 Sep;117(9):1281-7.
- Kaye AD, Kaye AJ, Swinford J, Baluch A, Bawcom BA, Lambert TJ, Hoover JM. The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart rate. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Mar;14(2):125-8.
Writer Bio
I hold a Master's degree in exercise physiology/health promotion. I am a certified fitness specialist through the American College of Spots Medicine and an IYT certified yoga teacher. I have over 25 years experience teaching classes to both general public and those with chronic illness. The above allows me to write directly to the reader based on personal experiences.