Watch Out For Falling Blood Pressure

Posted: September 18th, 2015

First of all, to help control blood pressure it is imperative to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a low fat diet, cutting salt and cholesterol and developing a regular exercise routine. Add massage therapy to the mix for relaxation. Yes there is the benefit of lower blood pressure through regular massage therapy.   Stress wreaks havoc on the body and mind. Finding ways to manage stress is very important, and massage therapy may help. First speak with your healthcare physician to make sure you can have a massage based on your personal health. Since massage can affect circulation, patients with high blood pressure or any kind of heart disease, should always check with a physician first.  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. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, once blood pressure reaches more than 120/80 mmHg, steps need to be taken to lower it.   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. While much more research is needed to understand how massage affects blood pressure, it appears to help some patients when used as part of an overall plan.