It is rightly said that massage therapy is one of the oldest methods of treatment, helping with relaxation, pain management, or rather improvement of the overall quality of life. Massage therapy was defined only as a means of improving physical or psychological conditions until recent studies have shown that patients undergo massage therapy for post-surgery cardiovascular benefits. In this review article, we will examine the effects of massage therapy on some aspects of cardiovascular functioning, such as blood circulation, stress, and levels of inflammation, among others.
The effects of the massage therapy on the blood flow
The mechanism of action of massage therapy includes the primary, which is related to the improvement of blood circulation. This is because, as a person leans down or sits for a long time, the muscle and tissue keep their shapes without any rhythmic blood supply to them; hence, the massage encourages circulation through blood flow and movement, creating a delivery system of nutrients and oxygen. This improved blood flow is beneficial as it helps alleviate the burden on the myocardial tissues, thus averting cardiovascular stress and promoting normal functioning of the blood vessels. Improved blood circulation also enhances healing after vigorous physical activities and minimizes chances of developing thromboembolism.
Massage Therapy and Stress Management
Stress is among the factors that can cause cardiovascular conditions. To elaborate, long-term stress has been linked with hypertension and heart disease, among other cardiovascular-related conditions. As presented in the literature, massage therapy is one of the ways used to treat stress and is of importance as it reduces the levels of a stress hormone known as cortisol and enhances the levels of the wellbeing hormones called serotonin and dopamine. Besides hypertensive complications, regular massage treatments help in the alleviation and mental colonization strategies, which in turn help in reducing heart-related problems.
Inflammation and Its Consequences on Cardiovascular Health: Prevention and Management Strategies.
In a series of controversies and considerations, the aspect of inflammation is also discussed as a risk factor in a diet-related disease of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis, characterized by the deposits of plaques within the arterial walls. Massage is a treatment technique that promotes inflammation response by enhancing lymphatic drainage and blood flow to the affected areas, enabling detoxification and inflammatory mediator elimination. There is evidence-based practice discouraging the use of inflamed tissues as a therapy, as regular massage promotes the decrease in cytokines, which are inflammatory proteins that encourage heart diseases of chronic nature.
Massage Therapy in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Surgery massage can be helpful for most of the patients suffering from heart-related diseases, including hypertension and heart failure, as well as stroke survivors. This helps to cope with such adverse signs as elevated blood pressure and stress, together with muscular stiffness, which aggravate cardiovascular disorders. However, when it comes to using such therapy, especially for a patient with extreme heart conditions, clearance should be given by a physician. For this reason, safer and more effective measures such as Swedish massage and lymphatic drainage are encouraged instead.
The psychological advantages of massage therapy
Massage therapy does not only extend physical advantages for one’s body but also has very much on the psychological side, which is in a great way connected to heart soundness. The ability to relax, the alleviation of stress, and the increase in positive affect all work to create a more favorable environment for the cardiovascular system. Research shows that relieving stress through promoting healthy behaviors and encouraging stress resilience is beneficial for heart health. For patients with a chronic condition, for example, she uses massage therapy as adjunctive therapy to enhance her overall well-being.
Conclusion
Cardiovascular health can also be approached in a more comprehensive way by turning to massage therapy, which enhances blood circulation, decreases stress levels, alleviates inflammation, and boosts mental health in general. Restorative massage therapy can be applied in a preventive manner, or it can be integrated into a therapeutic plan for diagnosed cardiovascular diseases to enhance the overall quality of the heart. As time goes by and more studies emerge supporting its advantage, the fact that massage therapy will be one of the core liberal practices on cardiovascular health is indisputable.
