Since the beginning of time, it seems that there has always been a relationship between stress and heart disease.  The ancient Greeks and even other cultures believed that the heart, rather than the brain, is the center of all emotions.  Thus, when we hear “heart broken,” “good hearted,” and “heart of gold,” they are all referencing character and personality.  And interestingly, as one researcher stated, if you want to “get to the heart” of an issue, whether it be an apple or an argument, you go to the “core” derived from the Latin word ‘cor’ meaning heart.  Ahh – we learn new things everyday!

So we can see that this is an interesting aspect of history, but isn’t stress a fairly new phenomena?  I’m wondering if today’s society truly experiences more stress than any society previously.  C’mon though, think about cavemen..  They must’ve been pretty stressed when it came to killing their prey (or vice versa) so that they could bring home the good eatins’.  I have many questions about how this phenomenon evolved, but I’m pretty confident that we all agree it exists.  The tension we feel when we are running behind schedule, the fear that someone will catch us in a lie, the anxiety we feel when someone is trying to control our lives and what choices we’ve made, and most prevalent, any aspect of conflict or confrontation.  I mean, we’ve all felt it; and I for one, have experienced everything I’ve listed above.  It’s part of life.  And I think we just found a name for it.  Stress.

It was the 1983 cover story in Time Magazine referring to stress as the new ‘Epidemic of the Eighties’ that had people start recognizing what it was and really being able to put a name, even a diagnosis to what they were feeling.  There have been numerous surveys that have suggested that the problem has progressively worsened since then.  I can’t think of a day that passes that I don’t hear something about stress, stress related diseases, how to conquer stress and so on. 

So how has it worsened from the days of cavemen as suggested above?  Is contemporary stress somehow different or more dangerous?  I’m not so sure.  But what I do know is that scientific research has increasingly confirmed the important influence of stress in numerous diseases, and uncovered the mechanics of actions responsible for its diverse effects on physical and mental health, as stated by Paul Rosch, MD.  “It is es­ti­mated that 75-80 per­cent of all vis­its to pri­mary care phy­si­cians in the U.S. are for stress re­lated com­plaints, and it is dif­fi­cult to think of any ill­ness rang­ing from the com­mon cold to can­cer, in which stress could not play a con­tribu­tory role.”

This whole idea of stress cannot be objective though.  What I find stressful might not be in the least stressful to you.  So it really has to do with perception.  Let’s say I’m going to the dentist, and I’m feeling stressed about it because I have no control over the procedure while the work is being done.  Meanwhile, if you go into the same situation, you may not have an issue with that and it would be as simple as drill, clean and swish.  What causes one person to stress and another not to?  Perception.  What distinguishes one person from another is the sense of control they perceived over the event.  Neither one of us had greater or less control, but the perception and expectation were quite different.  Therefore, we cannot define stress objectively, “all of our ani­mal and hu­man re­search con­firms that the sense or feel­ing of be­ing out of con­trol is al­ways dis­tress­ful.”

There is evidence that indicates that sudden death, which is the leading cause of death in the world, is frequently associated with an outpouring of stress related hormones that cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm that can be fatal in even young people.  In fact, research  from the Scientific Journal Medical Archives indicates that “Under se­vere stress, heart rate and blood pres­sure soar, blood sugar rises to fur­nish fuel for en­ergy, blood is shunted away from the gut where it is not im­me­di­ately needed for pur­poses of di­ges­tion to the large mus­cles of the arms and legs, to pro­vide more strength in com­bat, or greater speed in get­ting away from a scene of po­ten­tial peril.  The blood clots more quickly to pre­vent loss from hem­or­rhage, our pu­pils di­late to im­prove the range of vi­sion, and a mul­ti­tude of other re­ac­tions over which we have no con­trol are im­me­di­ately and auto­mati­cally evoked.”  Good stuff, isn’t it?

 Anybody in the mood for some red meat right about now?

So our bodies still react the way they did many years ago, with this archaic, primitive and stereotyped responses, that are not really useful these days and instead damaging or deadly.  With these responses being repeatedly invoked, it’s not hard to see why stress causes heart attacks, hypertension, strokes, ulcers, muscle spasms, and other diseases.

Hans Sayle, a Canadian researcher, coined the term “stress” about 60 years ago to explain what he called the “diseases of adaptation.”  He used it to describe a series of responses in laboratory animals subjected to severely disturbing physical or mental threats.  If persistent, these ended up causing ul­cers, heart at­tacks, hy­per­ten­sion, arthritis, kid­ney dam­age, and other dis­eases. Se­lye rea­soned that if stress could do this in his ex­peri­men­tal ani­mals, then per­haps it played a simi­lar role in pa­tients suf­fer­ing from these dis­or­ders.

These days, in response to stress, there has been much emphasis placed on the production of serotonin to offset stress and stress producing hormones.  Serotonin is a hormone also called 5-hydroxytryptamine, in the pineal gland, blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain. Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter the mood. For example, medications that affect the action of serotonin are used to treat depression.  But Serotonin is naturally replenished through sleep, rest or relaxation.  Often times, the things you find pleasurable increase your serotonin levels thus allowing your body to offset some of the stress related hormones and to keep you at safe levels of “stress.”

Next step, let’s battle stress!  Recommended is soothing, harmonic music, aromatherapy and even yoga.  And of course, massage is my personal recommendation.  In fact, I would recommend a relaxation or Swedish Massage or even a Therapeutic Massage if you’ve never had one.  Stress shouldn’t take the toll it does on today’s population, but the bottom line is, it is a huge contributor to disease and death.  Let’s say that again: Stress is a huge contributor to disease and death.  How do you plan on remedying your stress levels?  Remember, take the therapeutic approach.  It’s all about YOU.

I provide Naturopathic Midwifery services in a family practice setting.  My specialty training is in providing naturopathic prenatal care, home births, post-partum and pediatric care.  I see women and their family members through all cycles of life, preconception, pregnancy, labor & delivery, post-partum, well woman care, annual physicals, and then pediatric care for the new family member.  I have two children, both born at home with a Naturopathic physician/midwife.  I can attest to the importance of pregnancy massage both as a physician and as a patient.  When my pregnant patients are looking for massage services, I specifically recommend that they find a provider that utilizes the cut out tables in their practice.  It is my opinion that while in the prone (face down) position with the appropriate section removed to allow the abdomen (and baby) to freely suspend with the support of the sling, that the mother is in the best position to receive a massage.  Most pregnancy massages average 45-90 minutes long in duration and while the mother is receiving therapeutic massage, she may actually be hurting herself or the baby if not in the best position.  Many massage locations will have mother’s side-lie.  This position is not only uncomfortable for longer durations of time, it also decreases maternal return blood flow to the heart from the lower extremity when the mother lies on her right side.  This decrease in maternal blood flow then disrupts the circulation flowing to the baby and can reduce the amount of oxygen the baby receives from the placenta.  Some women experience a transient increase in blood pressure while lying on their right side (from baby lying on maternal inferior vena cava, the large blood vessel returning blood to mother’s heart), other’s may have a sensation of faintness likely from blood vessel compression, other’s may have concomitant sciatic or hip pain that may worsen with side lying positions.  As a mother lies in the prone position with a specialty table designed for pregnant women, the maternal circulation remains consistent throughout her body, the baby does not compress maternal inferior vena cava, pressure is off of maternal hip joints, and the mother is allowed to be in the most comfortable position to then relax and enjoy her massage.

Krystal Tellier, ND
Health For Life Naturopathic Medicine
16601 N. 40th Street, Suite 124
Phoenix, AZ  85032
Office: 602-368-9211

www.DrKrystalTellier.com

“I would highly recommend massage at any stage of pregnancy because it can reduce the stress on the mother and baby by inducing relaxation. It can be used for any muscle aches and pains common during pregnancy. I have two children of my own and had massage, chiropractic and acupuncture during each pregnancy. I know that the combination of these therapies made my pregnancies more relaxed and prepared my body for the birthing process. I feel that clients would highly benefit from massage on the cut out tables that Elements Therapeutic Massage offers to deepen relaxation while alleviating the pressure on the body from the beautiful growing belly.”
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc.

You may contact Dr. Kovalik at:
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc.
10405 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 3
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
602-434-7922
www.drkovalik.com

This wasn’t the mild case of ‘baby blues’ that I’ve heard about in the past. This was going on for almost a month now, and the outside world was totally oblivious to my feelings because of my ‘closet crying.’ I wanted to get well without having to divulge myself to the whole world about my condition. My sadness was deeper and longer than just the regular 2-3 week baby blues that some people get. I was even embarrassed to talk to my doctor about it because I would tear up just thinking about it.

But here’s what I found out and the steps I took to help myself. First, I allowed myself to cry, and just get it all out. Sometimes, it got so silly that I ended up laughing at myself, but it made me feel better.

Second, I started to research what postpartum depression was all about. Most postpartum depression is thought to be related to fluctuating hormone levels that affect mood and energy. Levels of estrogen and progesterone that have increased during pregnancy drop suddenly after delivery. These rapid hormone shifts affect the brain’s mood chemistry in a way that can lead to sadness, low mood, and depression that lingers. Stress hormones may have an added effect on mood. Some women may experience this more than others. For me, not only did I feel an overwhelming amount of stress from things in the outside world, like finances, business, relationships, bills, etc., but I also felt totally ‘alone,’ even though I had a husband and three children around me all day long, and even friends and family that were visiting.

Other symptoms of postpartum depression include having trouble concentrating or completing routine tasks, a loss of appetite or disinterest in food, feeling indifferent to your baby or not feeling attached or bonded, feeling overwhelmed by life and a feeling that there is no hope of things getting better, and even feeling like you are just going through the motions of your day without being able to feel happy, interested, pleased, or joyful about anything. The feelings are genuine. Sometimes when two or more symptoms are combined, one can feel a bit hopeless as well.

Although I did not personally seek out counseling or therapy, and was too chicken to talk to my doctor about medication (and was not interested in going this route), there were other things that I did to balance out my hormones and serotonin levels. First, I vowed to control what I could, which included a proper diet, exercise, in the form of stretching and walking, and expressing my thoughts and emotions. My form of accomplishing this was writing in my journal. This was a huge part of relieving a majority of the symptoms I had without embarrassing myself. The next thing I did was try to balance out my serotonin levels. There are many researchers who believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression. As a neurotransmitter, serotonin helps to relay messages from one area of the brain to another. Because of the widespread distribution of its cells, it is believed to influence a variety of psychological and other body functions. Of the approximately 40 million brain cells, most are influenced either directly or indirectly by serotonin. So moodiness, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, remembering things, regulating one’s own temperature and other social behavior issues are affected by an imbalance of serotonin. I’d even heard that massage was a jump start way for the busiest people who get the least amount of sleep to rebalance their serotonin levels. You got it, massage!

I remembered being so tired one day about a month after having our baby that I decided to get away for a massage, the first time I’d been out by myself since giving birth, I might add. I’ve had so many massages in the past that I truly didn’t realize that it was possible to feel totally and utterly rejuvenated after a massage. I had never felt the way I did after a massage, EVER, than I had that day when I walked out of that massage. I was reluctant to get one in the first place because I just wasn’t in the mood. But it must have been the 80 minutes of massage that I needed because it truly did have an effect on my mood. Just that small amount of time really helped me.

Don’t get me wrong, my sad feelings came and went for the next couple of weeks, but they were diminishing. I think it was a compilation of everything I did, but I did allow myself to get more massages than normal just to recenter myself and allow myself to take a minute or two away from everything and everybody and focus on myself. This is truly what I needed in my time of desperation.

For those that are reading this and thinking, boy, what a nutcase, why didn’t she just get herself out of the slump? (Thanks Tom Cruise!) That is fine; everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if either you or someone you know is experiencing some form of postpartum depression (and not every mother will admit it), give her an outlet outside of her immediate surroundings. A weekend getaway, a package of massages, a yoga class, a journal, a day out with her girlfriends.. You get the idea. Sometimes, just some time to balance out her hormonal and serotonin levels is all she will need. As I’ve always said, ‘Therapeutic Massage’… it works.

Prenatal Massage

Massage therapy is used to improve overall health, decrease stress, and relieve muscle aches and pains. Pregnant women have received varying responses regarding the safety and indications of massage during pregnancy. Data has proven that prenatal massage can be an important addition to prenatal care and should be considered when appropriate.  If contemplating prenatal massage, find a therapist who is certified in prenatal massage.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Studies indicate that massage therapy during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Swedish massage is the recommended method during pregnancy because it addresses many discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.

Hormone regulation

Data suggests hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health. Stress related hormones are reduced while hormones associated with relaxation and decreased depression is increased after massage. These changes in hormone levels lead to fewer complications during labor and delivery, as well as fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight.

Reduction of swelling

Edema of the joints during pregnancy can be caused by impaired circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the uterus. Massage stimulates soft tissues to reduce fluid accumulation in joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste.

Improvement of nerve pain

Sciatica often occurs in pregnant women in the late second trimester and third trimester.  The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and compress nearby nerves. Massage decreases inflammation of nerves (and, therefore, sciatica) by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.

Other benefits of prenatal massage:

• Reduced back and joint pain
• Improved circulation
• Improves skin elasticity, reducing stretch marks
• Reduced muscle tension and headaches
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Prepares body for delivery by loosening pelvis and reducing tension
• Improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles
• Better sleep
• Improves digestion
• Relaxes and soothes fetus

Precautions to take when seeking Prenatal Massage

Women should discuss massage with their prenatal care provider. The best way to address the risks of prenatal massage is to be well informed and to work together with knowledgeable massage therapists.

Body position during prenatal massage

Many consider the best position for a pregnant woman during massage is side-lying. Tables that provide a hole in which the uterus can fit (some tables also have holes where the breasts fit through) are becoming more popular, specifically in facilities tailored to prenatal massage.  Consult your massage therapist before your first appointment to verify what position they place their clients in during the massage.

Side lying benefits:

• Less stretching of uterine ligaments
• Less strain on tender breasts
• Reduces aggravation of heartburn (verses lying prone)
• Reduces sinus congestion
• Facilitates performing various stretches on patient

 Side lying drawbacks:

• Constant moving and repositioning of patient
• Some mothers feel like they are lying on their baby
• Inability of get relief in all areas due to lack of access
• Lying on the right side for too long may compress vena cava

Cut out table benefits:

• Overall more comfortable
• Patients often can stretch out more than when lying on side
• Some moms miss lying on tummy
• Therapists can better access entire body and conduct more efficacious massage of lower back, extremities, ligaments and front/back of legs
• Overall better circulation with a more thorough massage
• 99% of patients prefer this position due to side lying

Cut out table drawbacks:

• May increase uterine pressure
• Sinus congestion (typical in all massage, pregnant and non-pregnant)
• Heartburn
• Tender breasts (if breast cut outs are not used as well)

Seek out a massage therapist experienced in prenatal massage

It is important to seek care from a certified prenatal massage therapist. Certified therapists have received training beyond the national standards for massage therapists and know how to address specific pregnancy needs and sensitive areas of the body.  Trained prenatal massage therapists are aware of pressure points on the ankles and wrists that can gently stimulate pelvic muscles, including the uterus. These therapists are trained to avoid intentional pressure to these areas during pregnancy in order to decrease the likelihood of preterm contractions.

Women with the following conditions should speak with their health care provider prior to receiving a massage:

• High risk pregnancy
• Any disease process that massage would be contraindicated in the non-pregnant patient)
• Pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia
• Vaginal bleeding (or if diagnosed with placenta previa)
• Abdominal pain
• History of blood clots
• History of preterm labor or preterm contractions in current pregnancy
• Severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden, severe headaches
• Decreased or no fetal movement over the past 24 hours
• Recent birth

Is prenatal massage safe throughout the entire pregnancy?

Women can receive massage at any point in their pregnancy, regardless of trimester. Many facilities refuse to massage women in the first trimester because of risk of miscarriage. This is untrue. There is no evidence that miscarriage has ever been caused by massage.  Some forms of massage can induce labor in advanced pregnancy, and this may be the origin of misconceptions regarding first trimester massage.  In fact, acupressure in some areas can reduce symptoms of morning sickness, a common symptom experienced in the first trimester.

Summary

The benefits of massage can improve overall prenatal health for pregnant women. Along with the advice of a prenatal care provider, massage can be incorporated into routine prenatal care. Nausea and dizziness can occur after any massage, pregnant or non-pregnant.  Avoid eating immediately before massage and get up from massage carefully to avoid problems.  Muscle soreness after massage is the result of not getting enough fluids after massage.  Drink plenty of water in the first two hours after massage to help prevent this.  Consult your health care provider before beginning any new therapeutic practice.

Folks, massage works. After not being able to conceive for 3 years after the birth of my first child and visiting an infertility specialist only to be asked to start taking Clomid (as most of you know is a the most commonly used fertility drug and is effective in ensuring ovulation up to 80% of the time), I finally decided to not opt for the drugs and instead take a more natural approach and try to reduce my stress levels by getting massage regularly. By regularly, I’m talking, once a week. We’ve all heard that stress is a huge contributor to why things don’t happen the way they should for your body. You don’t have to be an MD to figure that one out. But to what extent can stress overtake your normal bodily functions? I’ve heard of people getting really ill because of stress. I mean, hasn’t it caused tons of people to have fatal heart attacks and strokes? There is even evidence that the largest number of heart attacks and strokes occur on Monday morning between 8-9am. Coincidence? Perhaps, but for me, it was worth a shot to reduce stress levels to see if there was really a correlation between stress and infertility.

Meanwhile, it all worked out in my favor because I was just beginning to interview massage therapists for the Elements massage studio I was opening in Gilbert, AZ. I didn’t have to spend the money for the massages, but if I look back and think about how much money I would have spent on infertility treatments, I think I would have rather put that money towards getting massages, considering my initial consult with an infertility specialist in Scottsdale resulted in a $300 bill.

It was during this opening process, which was a stressful one, I might add, that I conceived. Can you believe it? After years of trying, I finally got pregnant!

Although I still do not fully understand the connection between stress and infertility, and do not condone or not condone infertility treatments (nor am I recommending ceasing your treatments), I’ve heard that stress levels confuse the brain’s hormone center and can delay ovulation. The January 2004 edition of the International Journal of Neurosciences published an article about research that was conducted on bodywork and stress. They set up three groups of volunteers to measure stress levels and heart rates. The first group received a light pressure massage, the second group received a moderate level massage, and the last group received a vibratory massage. In my lingo, I equate those to Swedish, Therapeutic and Tapotement modalities, respectively. My favorite is a Therapeutic Massage, consisting of long, wide, broad strokes at a medium pressure intensity. And interestingly enough, while all groups showed a decrease in anxiety levels, those that received a medium pressure massage saw the biggest drops in stress level. Another coincidence?

Here’s the biggest surprise of all. After delivering our newborn baby girl in April of 2009, I started receiving massages again to relieve myself of the exhaustion I was feeling after staying up night after night through all those feedings. Boy did I need a massage after not receiving one for over a month. Not only did it make me feel relaxed, it also increased my blood flow and circulation, resulting in another pregnancy a couple weeks later. Yes, you heard right. Now I am a baby making machine. Was I a little surprised? UH… at a loss for words is more like it. Move over Clomid, my ovaries have taken over!

For those undergoing expensive infertility treatments, it doesn’t hurt to try a different approach to getting pregnant. Give yourself permission to receive a therapeutic massage. You can think of it as an escape: warm sheets, soft music, and a moment of relaxation during your busy and hectic lives.

We have worked diligently to create what we call the Elements Signature Therapeutic Massage which encompasses all facets of a head to toe therapeutic massage, involving Swedish, Deep Tissue and Trigger Point Therapy. You can receive this type of massage at any of the Elements studios in AZ. Think relief from mental and physical stress, injury and pain relief, and ultimately a little time to yourself to refocus. It is truly a magnificent and detailed massage, which will please even the most critical customer.