General Health Articles

Healthy Living Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

For more than 125 years, experts have been researching the benefits of massage therapy, and besides the obvious stress-free feeling that people have following a massage, there are plenty of other benefits to this ancient healing procedure.

One major benefit of massage therapy that researchers have found is that people who get massages on a regular basis have noticed a decrease in their blood pressure. 

Massages also help to alleviate the pain of those who suffer from migraine headaches. 

Massage can also reduce your heart rate, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, relax your muscles, improve your range of motion, and increase endorphins. Some other physical benefits of massage therapy include relieving muscle tension and stiffness, alleviating discomfort during pregnancy, reducing muscle spasms, promoting deeper and easier breathing, enhancing the health and nourishment of your skin, and improving your posture. 

Massage therapy, while a physical act, is not all about physical benefits. There are plenty of mental benefits that having a massage can give you. 

Some of these mental benefits include promoting mental alertness, relieving mental stress, reducing levels of anxiety, improving motor skills, creating body awareness, and fostering a feeling of wellbeing. 

While this article only touches on a few benefits of massage therapy, both physical and mental, there are plenty more out there that researchers are learning about every day. 

So, go pamper yourself!

In the News Heart Health Month – Part II

(Continued from Part I…)

• Advanced age - Your risk of developing and dying from a heart-related illness increases as you age, with most deaths occurring in the over 65 age group, so staying as healthy as possible through exercise and diet is the best way forward.
• Gender – Men are more at risk of having a heart attack than women, and having one earlier, too.
• Heredity risk - You have a higher chance of developing heart disease if other family members have it. You may want to get your DNA tested for any hereditary risk, then (of course) discuss the results with your doctor.
• Smoking – Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop heart disease. It’s time to kick the habit!
• Low physical activity - Leading a sedentary lifestyle is one of the major risk factors for developing coronary heart disease, but you don’t have to be an elite athlete to increase your activity levels as extra protection.
• Being overweight - Overweight people are more likely to develop heart disease. Excess body fat around the stomach and abdomen areas is particularly dangerous and can also lead to high blood pressure.
• Stress - Your physiological response to stress could be a leading risk factor for having a heart attack. Look for healthy ways to deal with the stress of your everyday commitments, such as mindfulness and meditation.
• Poor diet - What you eat affects your health. Eating nutrient-rich foods (such as fruits and vegetables) and limiting your red meat and sugar consumption is a good place to start.

In the News Heart Health Month – Part I

Every February across the United States, Heart Health Awareness Month is celebrated. Since declared a health month by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, fundraising and heart health awareness activities take place all over the country.

This month we look at the different statistics regarding heart health and some ways that you can be preventative when it comes to your heart health. 

• Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in America.
• Approximately 640,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that’s 1 in 4 deaths.
• More than ¾ of the deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in low- to middle- income countries.
• Someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 38 seconds, according to the American Heart Association.
• Around 18.2 million adults over the age of 20 have cardiovascular disease.
• One in five heart attacks are silent, with the person unaware of it.

So, what are the warning signs of a heart attack? Here are some common symptoms:

• Tightness in the chest
• Nausea, heartburn and indigestion
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Fatigue
• Sudden dizziness

Many different risk factors affect your chances of developing heart disease. Understanding what aspects of your life play a role can help you make changes to improve your health. Of course, there are some risk factors that you cannot change, but you should still be aware of them. Here are the risk factors:

(Continued in Part II…)

Healthy Living The Healthy Truth About Your Feet

As odd as it may seem, your feet may be the window to your overall body health. Here are some things to look for regarding your feet that will give you clues that there may be other important body issues to investigate.

Thick, yellow toenails -

Toenails are not supposed to be thick and/or yellow.  Thick, yellow nails are most often an indication of a fungal infection living beneath your toenails.  People that have other medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and other immune deficiencies are more likely to get a fungal infection than those that do not have these conditions.  To treat thick, yellow toenails, you will need to consult a podiatrist.  While there are plenty of over-the-counter treatments for thick, yellow toenails, by the time your nails are already discolored and thick it is too late for any over-the-counter creams or medicines to work. You must discuss your options with a professional.

No hair on your feet or toes –

If your feet or toes are lacking hair, it can be a sign of having poor circulation because of vascular disease.  If you notice that your feet and toes do not have any hair on them, you will want to consult your doctor to find out ways to improve your circulation thereby reducing your risk of acquiring vascular disease.

A wound that won’t heal on your foot – Wounds on your feet that just won’t heal could be an indication of diabetes.  Over time, elevated blood glucose levels can lead to serious nerve damage in your feet and because of this damage you may not feel when you have a sore or a wound on your foot.  If your wound continues to go unhealed there could be major problems, including amputation.  If you notice a wound that won’t heal on your feet, be sure to contact your doctor to discuss your wound.  

In the News New Year’s Resolutions – Part II

Continued from Part I…)

 Enroll in courses to gain more knowledge and to learn new skills or improve your current one.

• Start your own business.
• Get out of your shell, make new friends, and find ways to become more confident.
• Travel more, even if that means taking short trips or traveling within the city in which you live.
• Make better financial decisions this year by saving money, becoming more conscious about your spending, budgeting, investing, etc.
• Reduce social media use.
• Quit bad habits that have been holding you back like substance abuse, procrastination, and self-sabotage.
• Let go of toxic friends and unhealthy relationships.
• Read more books.
• Adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Give back to the community through donations, volunteering, and doing random acts of kindness.

 New Year’s Resolutions act as a guide for how you want your life to be for the next 365 days. You can also adjust as the year goes along. If you find something you can do to improve your life in the middle of the year, you don’t have to wait until next year to implement it.

 Happy New Year and Here’s to a Successful 2025.