Tennessee Health Insurance and Occasional High Blood Pressure

Posted by admin | Posted on 24-07-2011

Category : Region II

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Tennessee Health Insurance and Occasional High Blood Pressure

Variability in blood pressure appears to predict the risk of stroke more powerfully than high average or usual blood pressure. Three papers published simultaneously in The Lancet, and another study in The Lancet Neurology, all support the idea that variability is the more powerful indicator.

These studies by Professor Peter Rothwell and colleagues at the University of Oxford have major implications for diagnosing, and treating high blood pressure to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Prior to these studies, it was believed that the underlying average blood pressure determined most of the risk of complications from hypertension (raised blood pressure), and all of the benefit from the drugs that are used to lower blood pressure.

Improved Direction in Medical Guidelines Means Better Healthcare

In these studies, Rothwell’s team found that variability of blood pressure (BP) between visits to clinics was a strong predictor of angina, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, independent of mean BP.

This contradicts assumptions in current medical guidelines that patients with only occasional high readings do not require treatment. Now, it is becoming clear that such patients have a high risk of stroke and other complications. Occasional high BP that may be called episodic hypertension are associated with a high risk of stroke, and can no longer be considered to be benign.

Latest Information about Drugs to Lower Blood Pressure

Rothwell’s team also analyzed previous trials comparing the effects of blood-pressure-lowering medications. They found that different blood-pressure-lowering drugs have different effects on BP variability.

Certain prescription drugs increase this variability, which is dangerous, and others decrease variability, which is helpful. The researchers also found that these effects correlated with differences in the effectiveness of the drugs in preventing stroke.

The research shows that many patients need blood-pressure-stabilizing drugs as well as blood-pressure-lowering drugs. That’s a new concept in medical care, and it’s important to talk with your doctor about reevaluating any medications you’re currently taking that affect your BP.

New Findings Fuel Reevaluation of Prescriptions

In fact, it’s a good plan to regularly discuss all the medications you’re taking with a doctor so you are aware of possible interactions and side effects. Even doctors are joining a national prescription drug awareness campaign that is attempting to get a million people to take a better look at the medications they’re taking.

Take a better look at Tennessee Health Insurance Plans, too, for extra help with prescription medications. Health Insurance in Tennessee can include discount cards to lower your cost for medications. In addition, two of the largest providers of Health Insurance for Tennessee — Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee ‘- are offering at-home delivery for popular medications. That includes maintenance medications that are used to treat heart disease.

Tennessee Health Insurance members who enroll in mail-order prescription programs may also receive a discount for the first time they fill a prescription. Many programs offer additional coupons, free shipping, and other perks to make filling prescriptions more affordable and convenient. Some programs even offer reminders when it’s time to refill a prescription.

Not only is it important to be fully informed of the benefits and risks of medications and how to get the most savings on prescriptions, but it is also important to be educated about non-drug alternatives.

Lifestyle Still Best Bet to Prevent Heart Attack, Heart Disease, and Stroke

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and keeping your weight under control can lower systolic BP by about 10 to 15 mmHG. Systolic pressure is measured while the heart is beating, and diastolic pressure is when the heart is at rest between beats. BP is measured in millimeters of mercury recorded as mmHg. The systolic pressure is always given first in a reading. For optimal health, those numbers should be lower than 120/80 mmHg.

By Wiley Long – President, eTNHealthinsurance.com – Tennessee’s leading independent online health insurance agency specializing in individual and family Tennessee Health Insurance plans. Get an online Tennessee Health Insurance quote, compare plans, apply online, and Save!


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Choosing Meditation to Lower High Blood Pressure? New Research Reveals Which Meditation is Most Effective

Posted by admin | Posted on 25-03-2011

Category : Region III

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Choosing Meditation to Lower High Blood Pressure? New Research Reveals Which Meditation is Most Effective

A new scientific research study conducted at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine provides further evidence that people with high blood pressure can find relief through meditation—but the study also found that not all forms of meditation are equally effective. The study compared findings from research on several well-known types of meditation and relaxation practices, and found that the only mind/body practice that produces significant changes in blood pressure is the Transcendental Meditation technique. 

 

According to a definitive new meta-analysis of 107 previous studies on stress reduction programs and high blood pressure, published in the American Journal of Hypertension (Vol. 21, 3: 310-316), the Transcendental Meditation technique was found to produce a statistically significant reduction in high blood pressure—an effect not found with other forms of relaxation, meditation, biofeedback or stress management. 

 

Significant Reductions in Blood Pressure

 

The new meta-analysis reviewed randomized, controlled trials published in peer-reviewed scientific journals over the past decades concerning stress reduction and relaxation methods used by participants with high blood pressure. Blood pressure changes through the Transcendental Meditation technique included average reductions of 5.0 points of systolic and 2.8 points of diastolic blood pressure, changes which were statistically significant, according to the review. These changes associated with Transcendental Meditation practice were consistent with other controlled studies showing reductions in cardiovascular risk factors, improved markers of heart disease, and reduced mortality rates among participants in the Transcendental Meditation program. 

 

Transcendental Meditation “equivalent to adding a second hypertensive agent”

 

“The magnitude of the changes in blood pressure with the Transcendental Meditation technique are at least as great as the changes found with major changes in diet or exercise that doctors often recommend,” said Dr. James Anderson, principal author of the study. “Yet the Transcendental Meditation technique does not require changes in lifestyle. Thus many patients with mild hypertension or prehypertension may be able to avoid the need to take blood pressure medications—all of which have adverse side effects. Individuals with more severe forms of hypertension may be able to reduce the number or dosages of their BP medications under the guidance of their doctor.”  

 

Dr. Anderson stated further: “Adding Transcendental Meditation is about equivalent to adding a second hypertensive agent to one’s current regiment, only safer and less troublesome.” 

 

Reduced Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

 

Anderson added that long-term changes in blood pressure of this magnitude are associated with at least a 15 percent reduction in rates of heart attack and stroke. “This is important to everyone because cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide,” Anderson said. The study’s biostatistician, Maxwell Rainforth, assistant professor of Physiology and Health Statistics at Maharishi University of Management, said the meta-analysis used state-of-the-art statistical methods to review 107 published studies in the field of stress reduction, relaxation and blood pressure. “The twenty-three separate studies included in the final analysis met well-known criteria for high scientific quality. That is, these studies used repeated blood pressure measurements and participants were randomized to either a stress reduction technique or placebo-type control for at least eight weeks. The data we used are all published in peer-reviewed scientific journals,” Rainforth said. 

 

Side Benefits of TM vs. side effects of drugs

 

According to Dr. Robert Schneider, director of the Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention and co-author, this rigorously conducted meta-analysis indicates that the Transcendental Meditation technique is distinctively effective compared to other scientifically studied techniques in lowering high blood pressure. “For those 100 million Americans with elevated blood pressure, here is a scientifically documented, yet simple and easy way to lower blood pressure without drugs and harmful side effects. In addition, related studies show an integrated set of positive ‘side benefits,’ such as reduced stress, reduced heart disease levels and longer lifespan with this technique to restore balance in the cardiovascular system, mind and body,” Schneider said. 

 

Overturns a previous study on meditation

 

The new meta-analysis was co-authored by researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, in Louisville, and at the NIH-funded Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management in Iowa. 

 

According to Dr. Anderson, the findings of this new study rebut a July 2007 report sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the NIH-National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which concluded that most research on meditation is low quality and found little evidence that any specific stress reduction effectively lowers blood pressure.  

 

The new meta-analysis identified all high quality meditation studies published through 2006 and rigorously analyzed their results, which the previous government report failed to do. Anderson said the new meta-analysis includes only high quality studies on all available stress reduction interventions. The studies on the Transcendental Meditation technique were conducted at five independent universities and medical institutions, and the majority of them were funded by competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health. 

 

 

 

Gary P. Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurologist and associate professor of clinical neurology at New York University School of Medicine. He is also a recipient of the Albert H. Douglas Award from the Medical Society of the State of New York for outstanding achievements as a clinical teacher interested in promoting and improving the medical education of physicians. http://www.doctorsontm.com/high-blood-pressure


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Making a drug from Shrimp Waste, Chitosan, health, blood, fat

Posted by admin | Posted on 15-03-2011

Category : Pharmacy Students

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Making a drug from Shrimp Waste, Chitosan, health, blood, fat

Shrimp waste is one of the substantial amount of waste in Indonesia. Each coastal area for shrimp harvest is consumed as food can produce thousands of tons of waste. Waste is often thrown away or, if they are exported with very cheap price. In fact, the liquid waste discharged into coastal waters can harm the environment.

“Shrimp waste if discarded would be detrimental. Waste will enhance the biological oxygen demand in water due to the breakdown in aquatic organisms can be deprived of oxygen at the time. Also, if there is a decomposition of waste in large scale, it will affect the climate on a global scale, “said the student of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Surabaya.

Of concern, he went looking for references in international journals about the contents of shrimp waste that can be used and useful. From his search, he discovered that the shrimp waste containing compound called chitin, a complex carbohydrate compound found in the foreign shrimp. The compound is further processed in a certain way into a compound called chitosan, will be used to treat hyperlipidemia, a disorder of blood fat that can lead to deadly diseases such as coronary heart disease.

In addition, it also found that the shrimp waste was also used in foreign countries. “Waste of shrimp are exported to foreign countries was processed into new products after the products are exported to Indonesia and sold with high prices,” said Claudia. It was very painful for the people of Indonesia should have been able to process them.

With the knowledge she had, he tried the shrimp processing waste into hyperlipidemic drugs or excess fat (cholesterol and triglycerides) in blood. She did a series of cleaning processes in the laboratory to drying to obtain chitosan compounds that can be used. To do so, she is assisted by several friends and the laboratory.

To conduct the study was apparently not an easy thing. “Pharmaceutical research is not to cost a bit. I should be working on this by selling it to obtain funding. Fortunately, the funding ultimately borne by the campuses,” said Claudia.

After earlier attempts to produce chitosan compounds, laboratory test to examine the effectiveness of chitosan was performed. It is preparing 30 white rats as test object. Rats have made available a high fat content to look fat and showed a high rate of fat in blood tests.

Results of laboratory tests showed that the use of chitosan from shrimp waste is showing good results. The amount of fat in the blood of rats is reduced and the reduction is not different from the reduction jauhb when taking doctor prescribed medication. “This means that chitosan is given quite healthy,” said claudia.

Chitosan is used in the experiments were designed capsule. According to claudia, it does not reduce the benefits of chitosan. Instead it has the practical benefit. “Where will be produced for humans, chitosan is more practical and people want to drink it. If the consume chitosannya directly, the state tends to slack,” said Claudia explained.

The use of chitosan in the treatment of hyperlipidemia will be beneficial in terms of cost. “Once the patent medication, so if 11,000 people spent the day drinking three times the 33,000 will be spent. If the chitosan is, once drank only 3000 up to 3 times the 9000 drinking,” said Claudia. Thus, chitosan may be consumed by more people.

Claudia reveals she is now the center is able to obtain patents from the product. In addition, he also was looking for references from a variety of journals that can chotosan tested its effectiveness in humans. In the future, it is also able to obtain permission from the BPOM (Drug and Food Control Agency) to distribute the medicine. Consumption of this chitosan, like other natural remedies, if used in proper amounts will not cause side effects.

Research on it, Claudia won the Emil Salim Smart Awards from the Climate Leaders Program, a program organized the Foundation of Sustainable Development (YPB) in order to attract young people who are committed to preserving the environment for the vision to carry out its mission. Emil Salim Awards Award Hall of receipt of the Sapta charm, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Jakarta, Sunday (10/24/2010) yesterday.

You can found another article about science, shrimp waste at www.hapefun.com


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Is There Any Nicotine In Your Blood?

Posted by admin | Posted on 19-02-2011

Category : Pharmacy Students

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Is There Any Nicotine In Your Blood?

When you inhale nicotine, it enters your blood stream and your body metabolizes it into continine. Therefore, checking for continine is a way to determine if you are a smoker. Nicotine tests apply immunoassay technology to detect continine in blood, hair, urine, and saliva. All nicotine tests detect the presence of continine at a cut-off point of 200 ng/ml.

How accurate is this kind of test? A member of alt.smokers discussion group say the tests achieves 95 percent accuracy. The tests can measure the level of continine in the body for as long as two weeks.

How long does it take for nicotine to surface in urine tests? American Lung Cancer states that nicotine is gone from your blood and urine within 72 hours after your last cigarette. what you can still find in your urine though, is continine.

Nicotine tests are taken for a few reasons. The most obvious reason is for health insurance. Insurance companies conduct nicotine tests to classify smokers into three different premium classes. As a smoker, your premium will be higher than a non smoker. Studies show that smokers pay as high as three times the premium of non smokers. If you remain smoke free for five years, you get to enjoy the lowest premium.

Another reason would be for concerned parents who want to know whether their teenage child smokes or not. With nicotine tests, you can check your child’s tobacco consumption. If you have a family member who smokes in the home, you can examine the exposure of second hand smoke using this test.

American surveys reveal that more than 4 million children under 18 smoke cigarettes. Newspaper headlines expose teenagers smoking in schools. It is no surprise then that some high schools screen their students for cigarettes. School administrators believe that tobacco consumption can lead the students to drug abuse.

When you undergo a smoking cessation program, you can use a continine test kit to confirm your freedom from nicotine and the effectiveness of the program itself. You will also find it useful if one of your quitting methods involves nicotine cleansing products. You can know if it really removes nicotine from your body.

You can easily purchase nicotine test kits from pharmacies, drug stores, or over the internet. The more common brands include NicAlert, TobacAlert, and COT.

Some say that nicotine can leave your body within 24 hours. So, why do you need nicotine tests then? A study by Exam & Profile Services in Wisconsin indicates that continine will appear in urine for weeks after smoking. Unlike other conventional methods such as gas chromatography and HPLC-mass spectrometry, you can use nicotine test kits at home. They are also cheap and simple to apply.

Andy Lim is a web publisher for hisanti-smoking blog and web site. You can quit smoking today by learning more about nicotine withdrawal symptoms at DeadlyPuff.com today.


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Lower Your Blood Pressure through Massage Therapy in Tampa

Posted by admin | Posted on 24-01-2011

Category : Region II

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Lower Your Blood Pressure through Massage Therapy in Tampa

Hypertension or high blood pressure can be deadly. It can, however, be treated and prevented with massage therapy in Tampa.

According to the American Heart Association, one out of every three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. That adds up to some 73 million adults. Hypertension also afflicts some two million US teens and children. All of these people have higher risks for heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, arterial hardening, chronic renal failure and eye damage. Chronic high blood pressure often results in organ damage in the end. Invariably, high blood pressure shortens life expectancy.

High blood pressure refers to the pressure exerted on the arteries as they carry blood pumped out by the heart to the tissues and organs throughout the body. The blood pressure is measured by the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the higher pressure measured as the heart contracts and pumps out blood to the arteries. The diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure measured when the heart relaxes right after the contraction. To be within normal range, blood pressure should measure below 120/80. Blood pressure is considered pre-hypertension at 139/89 and high at 140/90.

It is important to detect high blood pressure early so that measures can be taken to normalize it. This prevents further complications. Medication is usually prescribed, accompanied by other treatments.

Emotional tension and stress are proven triggers of high blood pressure. Stress reduction therapies are, therefore, recommended for hypertensive patients. These include meditation, mind-body relaxation techniques, biofeedback techniques and progressive muscle relaxation techniques.

Massage has been proven to be most effective in decrease stress, anxiety and depression and in lowering blood pressure, though. This was shown in a study done by the Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine, and the Nova Southeastern University in Florida in May 1999.

The study observed thirty hypertensive adults whose blood pressures have been controlled in the last six months. They were divided randomly into two groups. One group was the massage therapy group while the other was the progressive relaxation group.

The massage therapy group was given thirty minute massage sessions twice a week for five weeks. Sessions were done in the afternoon or early evening.

The progressive relaxation group was taught to do self-administered progressive muscle relaxation exercises which they were made to do for thirty minutes twice a week for five weeks as well. Their sessions were also done in the afternoon or early evening.

Both groups were assessed before and after treatment. Current emotions were measured with the state anxiety inventory (STAI) Levels of the stress hormone cortisol were measured with saliva samples. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. Depressive symptoms were rated with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and hostility were further inventoried with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) self-report symptom inventory. Urinary cortisol and catecholamines were also measured. These biologically active amines affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

When results were compared, both groups showed lower anxiety levels in the STAI and lower depression levels in the CES-D after five weeks of treatment. The massage therapy group, however, was the only one that showed decreases in sitting blood pressure levels, decreases in both salivary and urinary stress hormone levels, and lowered scores for depression, anxiety and hostility.

Various massage therapy styles can lower your blood pressure, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage and – depending on your condition – pregnancy massage in Downtown Tampa, South Tampa, Hyde Park, Macdill AFB and 33629. You can go and cool down any time at your convenience.

Massage Envy – South Tampa
Contact Name: Rachel Dunning
3830 W. Neptune St. C-2
Tampa, FL 33629
Work: (813) 251-3300
Email: rachel.dunning@massageenvy.com
Website: http://www.massageenvy.com/clinics/FL/South-Tampa.aspx


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High Blood Pressure And Dark Chocolate

Posted by admin | Posted on 29-08-2010

Category : Region V

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High Blood Pressure And Dark Chocolate

Is there anything left out there that doctors have decided is not dangerous to eat. Well, yes – dark chocolate as long as you don’t eat too much. Dark chocolate has a surprising number of health benefits. For one, you may be able to lower your blood pressure by eating a few pieces of 70% chocolate.

Dark chocolate is also known as “bittersweet” or “semisweet” chocolate contains a high percentage (up to 75%) of cocoa solids, and little (or no) added sugar. Milk chocolate contains powdered or condensed milk; it is a sweet, mild-flavored type of chocolate. It contains approximately 20 percent cocoa solids. White chocolate is not classified as chocolate because it does not come from cocoa beans. However, it is made from cocoa butter to which milk, sugar, and vanilla extract have been added, and it is similar to chocolate in texture.

A few years ago researchers at Harvard discovered that the flavonoids that are present in cocoa help improve blood flow to the brain. One of the causes of mental decline as you age is decreased blood flow to the brain. As you can see dark chocolate has the highest percentage of cocoa therefore contains the largest concentration of flavonoids. Foods that contain high amounts of flavonoids include blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, red and yellow fruits (especially red grapes) and vegetables and red wine. Black and green teas are also high in flavonoids.

In a study at the University of California, San Francisco though both groups were given dark chocolate for two weeks, only one group received chocolate containing flavonoids. The other group’s chocolate bars contained no flavonoids. Dark chocolate contains a rather vigorous type of flavonoid called epicatechin. Epicatechin keeps cholesterol from accumulating in the blood vessels hence reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. There is also evidence to support that they reduce the probability of cancer and diabetes.

At the end of the two weeks each group was tested to see how well the blood vessels dilate and relaxed which is considered an indicator of healthy blood vessel function. The test subjects that consumed the dark chocolate containing flavonoids performed better on the blood vessels test. Blood tests indicated that high levels of epicatechin were in their arteries. Apparently the University of California study was the longest clinical trial to date using dark chocolate.

Another study done in Germany indicated that consuming dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure. One group was given white chocolate and one group dark chocolate. The test subjects who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

The only sad part of this story is that more is not better. You can’t eat all the dark chocolate you want. The people in the study ate about 3 ounces a day. Also try to buy dark chocolate bars that contain at least 70 percent cocoa content.

Antioxidants are a natural resource for keeping your body healthy. Want to find out which foods rich in antioxidant visit us at Curepure.com and make your grocery list for stronger immune system.

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Therapeutic Back Massage May Lower the Blood Pressure of Hypertensive Persons in Charlotte NC

Posted by admin | Posted on 18-06-2010

Category : Region II

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Therapeutic Back Massage May Lower the Blood Pressure of Hypertensive Persons in Charlotte NC

Research has shown that therapeutic back massage may lower the blood pressure of hypertensive persons. Even other types of massage have been proven by studies to have beneficial effects in lowering blood pressure. People with hypertension could try therapeutic body massage services, including back massage therapy, foot massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and sports massage therapy from professional massage therapists in Charlotte NC.

A study done by Christine M. Olney, MSN, RN for the University of South Florida in Tampa, titled “The Effect of Therapeutic Back Massage in Hypertensive Persons: A Preliminary Study”  was published in Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 7, No. 2. According to the study, hypertension is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States and it is also very dangerous since it can cause damage to vital organs. No single primary cause has been identified for hypertension but one of the main factors is long term or chronic stress response that goes unchecked. Since massage therapists have long maintained that massage therapy can decrease blood pressure and mitigate hypertension by producing the relaxation response in patients, the study tested the effects of applying regular back massage on patients who have clinically diagnosed hypertension.

The study covered 14 patients. Eight patients were in the massage group. They were given 10 sessions of 10 minute back massage done three times a week. Six patients were in the control group. They were given 10 sessions of 10 minute relaxation also done three times a week. By the end of the study, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients in the massage group showed a significant decrease.

Another study of the Touch Research Institute in the University of Miami’s School of Medicine and the Nova Southeastern University in Florida, done in May 1999, showed similar findings. It involved a group of thirty adults with hypertension whose blood pressure levels were under control in the previous six months. The participants were divided randomly into two groups – a massage therapy group and a progressive relaxation group.

Patients in the massage therapy group were given massages for thirty minutes in the afternoon or early evening two times a week for five consecutive weeks. Patients in the progressive relaxation group were taught progressive muscle relaxation exercises thy could do by themselves and were instructed to perform these for thirty minutes in the afternoon or early evening two times a week for five consecutive weeks.

Assessments and evaluations on the patients were done before and after the treatment period. The State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure their emotions. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire was used to rate any symptoms of depression. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) Self-report Symptom Inventory was used to check other symptoms of anxiety, depression and hostility. Saliva samples were taken to measure levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Urine samples were taken to measure levels of cortisol and catecholamines which are biologically active amines that impact the cardiovascular and nervous systems. The patients’ blood pressures were also monitored.     

By the end of the five week study, both the massage group patients and progressive relaxation patients showed lower levels of anxiety and depression. Only the patients in the massage group, however, showed lowered levels of sitting blood pressure, lowered levels of stress hormones in both urinary and salivary tests, and lowered scores in tests for anxiety, depression and hostility.

You can surprise your family and friends with hypertension with massage gift cards so that they could relax and enjoy various therapeutic body massage services, including back massage therapy, foot massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and sports massage therapy from professional massage therapists in Charlotte NC while lowering their blood pressure in the process.

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