Everyone feels stressed from time to time, however, if left unmanaged stress can cause serious health problems. Chronic and unmanaged stress can cause anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, tight muscles, lowered immune system and more serious, heart disease. Research has shown that massage therapy is effective for stress relief by helping both the mind and the body. Massage therapy helps muscles relax, aids in blood circulation, improves immune system activity and helps in restoring normal digestive system function.
Here are some other ways to minimize your own stress levels:
- Make self-care a priority - dedicating time to relax and reground.
- Incorporate a form of exercise daily - yoga, walking, dancing.
- Focus on the NOW.
- Laugh - it is one of the best medicines!
- Meditate - take a few deep breaths, collect your thoughts and let the stress melt away.
Get a Massage to Celebrate Stress Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992. During this annual thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.
Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.
For more information about stress visit the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) website, a non-appropriated agency within the Program Support Center (PSC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)