Date: September 7, 2019

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Over the past century, rapid increase in life expectancy has made the prospect of living to be a 100 years old a reality for more and more people. Have you ever considered being a 100 years old? Well you may be shocked to find out how therapeutic massage could help you do just that.

You will probably conclude that a long life is desirable only if it is a good life. Meaning having good health, meaningful relationships, independence and a respected place in society.

Common Health Problems

Freedom from disease and disability along with active engagement in life are attributes of successful aging. Another important step of successful aging is the prevention of disease and disability.

Instead of dealing with health issues after they come up, we should focus on preventing them. A great way to focus on prevention is to set reasonable goals and to work on them by participating in meaningful activities.

Anything is possible if you work on it!

Here are some common medical disorders, which typically come with aging. Massage therapy paired with a healthy lifestyle is the critical element in “happy” aging.

Maintain activities for as long as possible once you feel you are unable to continue, and find a substitute that is still active that you find enjoyable. For instance maybe you can no longer run, try hiking or dancing instead.

Age is just a number; your real age is in your mind and depends of your decisions!

Here are some Common Health Problems that can be prevented:

ARTHRITIS

It is a chronic disease of joints, which are inflamed. Inflammation causes pain, swelling and deformity.

Causes are overuse, trauma from injury, infections, etc. the most common is degenerative joint disease where the ends of the bones in the joints degenerate with age.
How to prevent arthritis? Maintain good body weight, do non-impact exercises, use better body move mechanics, avoid injuries, check your vitamin D intake, and stay hydrated.

BACK PAIN

Back pain affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. There are over 3 million cases in the US per year. Back pain is caused by injury to a muscle or ligament.

It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Common causes include lack of regular exercise, improper lifting, poor posture, ruptured disk, or arthritis.
Research has shown that massage has a positive effect on clients with chronic lower back pain, as far as using anti inflammatory drugs.

Massage therapy is not only great for relieving existing pain but is also an important step in prevention.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome happens when the nerves inside your hand get pinched or compressed. The Carpal Tunnel itself is a passageway in your wrist where nine tendons pass. The tendons become swollen causing pain, tingling and numbness.
Women are more likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to the passageway being smaller.

Symptoms usually start slowly over time and come and go based on how often you use your hands, think typing a lot or doing a hobby where you use your hands.
If you feel like you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome check with your healthcare professional about treatment. There are exercises you can do to help protect and strengthen your wrists.

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a very common illness that needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional. Symptoms include wide spread muscle pain and tenderness. It is often accompanied with altered sleep, mood, memory, and fatigue.
Massage has been proven to have amazing effects on Fibromyalgia sufferers like increased serotonin levels and improved sleep.

It has been shown to decrease stress hormones and decrease pain at tender points. Most of all massage has been proven to improve an overall sense of well-being.

HYPERTENSION

High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension is a treatable disease that affects many Americans. There are typically no symptoms and if it is left untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Many people have it diagnosed at their yearly physical.
Massage therapy is very effective for people who cope with stress. Massage helps with lower blood pressure and steroid hormones – indicators of stress.

Massage stimulates receptors sending messages of relaxation to the central nervous system, which results in vasodilation (decrease in blood pressure and heart rate).

JOINT INJURIES

There are two types of joint injuries - acute and overuse injury. Acute injury is a sudden injury mostly caused by an accident such as a fall. On the other side, overuse injury is caused by placing too much stress on a joint repeatedly during sports or exercise.
The main remedies for joint injuries are RICE (rest, ice, compress and elevate).
Massage therapy relieves muscle tension and lowers stress.

OSTEOPOROSIS

The outside walls of bones become thinner and the inner part become spongy. Symptoms might include a loss of height, back pain and curving of the spine. Clients can feel hopeless and depressed because they are unable to lift, carry or bend.
Women are more affected than man, especially after menopause when ovaries stop producing estrogens, which protects bone density. Men produce androgens (men hormones) into old age, which means less risk of getting osteoporosis.
Taking supplements as vitamin D and calcium might help. Massage therapy reduces stress and relieves muscle tension.

STRESS

Stress is a prevalent part of our fast-paced society. It can impact our individual health and well-being. For example, stress is causing irregular or rapid heart rate, chronic high blood pressure, shortness of breath or hyperventilation, headaches, chronic tension, pain in the neck, shoulders, or back, buildup of fat in the blood vessels and around the abdomen.

Here are some quick recommendations to reduce stress: stop and take several slow, deep breaths, go for a quick walk around the block or neighborhood, take a hot shower or bath, pet your cat or dog, talk to a friend or loved one, distract yourself with something comforting, make a cup of tea, put on your favorite scented hand lotion, water your plant, chat with a coworker, get up and stretch, watch a funny movie or spend time with people who make you laugh, and accept what you cannot control, etc.

Massage treatments can reduce stress significantly – physically (heart rate goes down, decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decrease in salivary cortical levels) and psychologically (lowering stress, depression and anxiety).

Interested in a massage with us in Honolulu?

Call us at (808) 200-4611 or request an appointment online to schedule your massage session today. We promise benefits and results that will last, and a hint of Aloha! Here is a video introduction if you would like to know more about our professional clinic! Say goodbye to your common health problems, and explore wellness with us.

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