WELLNESS TIP OF THE WEEK

Let’s Talk About Stress Relief

by Massage Envy

Who doesn’t want to reduce the stress in their life? Stress relief is key to finding the balance of a healthy lifestyle. Even a single massage session has been shown to significantly lower heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels – all of which help reduce daily stress.

Stress is universal, and it’s not always bad. Whenever you jump to catch a badly thrown ball, feel especially energetic before an important meeting, or hit the brakes in time to avoid a car accident, stress is doing its job. The adrenaline boosting your heart rate and the cortisol boosting your blood sugar, while diverting energy away from your digestive system and immune responses, are exactly what prehistoric humans needed to fight or flee attackers.

However, when there’s never any relief from stress, the sustained fight-or-flight response can cause problems. In fact, WebMD warns that constant stress actually becomes “distress — a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.”

Massage Therapy and Stress

Virtually every symptom listed by the American Psychological Association can benefit from massage. Research has shown that it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles and increase the production of endorphins, your body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Serotonin and dopamine are also released through massage, and the result is a feeling of calm relaxation that makes chronic or habitual as well as acute or short-term stress much easier to overcome.

In fact, stress relief is one of the first benefits that come to mind when thinking of massage therapy. It’s also a key component for anyone trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Clinical studies show that even a single 1 ½-hour session can significantly lower your heart rate, cortisol levels and insulin levels — all of which explain why massage therapy and stress relief go hand-in-hand.

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Stress

Taking care of your body should be at the top of your priorities. By adding therapeutic massage to your routine now, you’ll feel, look and simply be healthier far into the future. In fact, stress relief alone can improve your vitality and state of mind. So what better way to prep for a long, happy life than a relaxing, therapeutic massage?

If you’re looking to add stress-relieving massage to your wellness program, a Massage Envy membership can be a powerful ally when combating daily pressures and anxiety. In addition to stress relief, ongoing massage therapy can reduce pain, increase energy levels and improve overall physical and mental performance. Our experienced, professional therapists at Massage Envy locations nationwide customize every massage (and stress relief) session to address your individual needs.

Methuen | (978) 685-1077 | MassageEnvy.com
Billerica | (978) 663-3689 | MassageEnvy.com
Nashua | (603) 598-4400 | MassageEnvy.com

 

WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

Cat With Four Frostbitten Paws Gets New Feet Made Of Titanium

A female cat in Russia that lost all four of her paws to frostbite can now walk, run and even climb stairs once again, thanks to the veterinarians who replaced her missing limbs with 3D-printed prosthetics made from titanium.

Dymka is now the second cat in the world to have received four metal prosthetics. In 2016, the Novosibirsk clinic performed a similar procedure, mounting titanium implants on a male cat named Ryzhik (“Red” in Russian), who also required a quadruple amputation of his frostbitten feet, according to The Moscow Times.

To read more about how this amazing procedure was done, visit LiveScience.com.

How Diet And Mental Health Are Related

Inverse.com recently interviewed Dr. Uma Naidoo, a psychiatrist, professional chef and founder of the first hospital-based service on nutritional psychiatry in the United States. In their interview Naidoo discusses the relationship between mental health and diet, foods that can help alleviate anxiety, and how much water we should really be drinking.

One of the biggest takeaways is perhaps Naidoo’s advice to start a healthy eating habit through small tweaks that are easy to sustain. Example of this could be to include more vegetables, whole foods, or water in your daily diet.

To read the full interview, visit Inverse.com here.