Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. This is a dangerous medical condition for anyone of any age and can lead to death. Studies have shown, however, that therapeutic massage may ease hypertension. Residents of Washington County, Clackamas, Keizer, Lake Oswego, Portland, Tualatin, Sherwood or Vancouver WA may avail of such therapeutic massage in the form of reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy from a professional massage spa in Beaverton.
The American Heart Association reports that in the United States, one in every three adults or more than 30% of the adult population is hypertensive, referring to about 73 million people. In addition, some two million children and teens in the United States also have high blood pressure. Hypertension makes all of them high risks for heart disease, arterial hardening, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, arterial aneurysm, chronic renal failure and eye damage. If hypertension becomes chronic, this often ends in organ damage. In any case, hypertension always shortens the patient’s life expectancy.
For the average adult, blood pressure should measure below 120/80 to be within the normal range. If the blood pressure measures 139/89, this is already considered pre-hypertensive. Once the blood pressure reaches 140/90, the patient is considered hypertensive. Health experts recommend regular monitoring of blood pressure to be able to detect hypertension early and have the appropriate medication prescribed. Prompt medication and faithful compliance usually prevent the onset of complications.
High blood pressure has been known to be triggered by stress and emotional tension. Doctors recommend that patients with hypertension undergo stress reduction therapies such as mind-body relaxation techniques, meditation, muscle relaxation techniques and biofeedback techniques.
According to studies, however, massage is the most effective therapy that can be used to reduce stress, anxiety and depression and, as a result, lower blood pressure. One of the studies that proved this was done in May 1999 at the Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami’s School of Medicine, and the Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Thirty adults suffering from high blood pressure but whose blood pressures have been under control for the previous six months were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the progressive relaxation group or the massage therapy group. For the next five weeks, the patients in the progressive relaxation group were taught to self-administer thirty minutes of progressive muscle relaxation exercises two afternoons or early evenings in every week. On the other hand, the patients in the massage therapy group were made to undergo thirty minute massage sessions two afternoons or early evenings in every week for the same five weeks.
The patients were evaluated before and after the interventions. Their blood pressures were monitored. The state anxiety inventory (STAI) was used to measure their emotions. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire was used to rate their symptoms of depression. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) self-report symptom inventory was further used to inventory symptoms of depression, anxiety and hostility. The saliva and urine were measured for levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines.
By the end of the interventions, all the patients had decreased STAI anxiety levels and CES-D depression levels. Aside from that, however, only the patients in the massage therapy group had decreased blood pressure, decreased stress hormone levels and lower SCL-90-R depression, anxiety and hostility levels.
Those who are suffering from high blood pressure in Washington County, Clackamas, Keizer, Lake Oswego, Portland, Tualatin, Sherwood and Vancouver WA have a chance to try therapeutic massage modalities like reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy to ease their hypertension. These can be availed of from a reputable massage spa in Beaverton.