ReadOns.com | Discover New Blogs Daily

9 lesser-known health benefits of foot massages

A foot massage is often seen as a luxury or a self-care ritual people want to treat themselves to. It relaxes a person’s mind, boosts mood, and relieves pain. To put it simply, heading to the spa for a foot massage is a little slice of heaven. But there’s more than meets the eye. Massages have advantages beyond indulgence and self-care. If someone gets a foot massage regularly, it can provide numerous other health benefits.

Improves emotional state
Most types of massages, including food massages, provide relaxation and calmness. They are enough to reduce stress levels and make people feel better. So, those who often feel stressed and worried should think about getting a foot massage. Some foot massages are known to help improve the symptoms associated with mental health problems. They can help people even if their condition is very severe.

Improves sleep
If someone wants a relaxing nap or a night’s sleep, they can use a simple 10- or 15-minute foot and leg massage as a precursor. The soothing effect the body experiences from a foot massage can help a person relax and sleep better. It improves blood flow, slows down the heart rate, and calms down one’s nerves. These effects promote longer and deeper sleep while also helping one fall asleep faster.

Brings down blood pressure
Today, high blood pressure is a mounting concern among most adults. Many factors can lead to this health issue, for example, unhealthy eating habits, poor lifestyle, a lack of exercise, genetics, and persistent stress. High blood pressure can, in turn, cause other health problems. A person can use many strategies if they want to prevent high blood pressure, but one of the easiest ways to reduce blood pressure is regularly getting a foot massage. People can experience lower blood pressure and improved circulation if they only get foot and leg massages a few times during the week.

Prevents injuries
A massage is a great solution to prevent injuries and support the body’s recovery process. It helps loosen the tightness in the muscles and prevents problems like muscle pulls. These benefits are significant for those who perform intense physical activities or play sports. Such individuals should invest time in getting a foot massage a few times a week. One can also give themselves a quick massage for 5 to 10 minutes to keep the muscles loose, improve blood circulation, strengthen their joints, improve their range of motion, and relieve twisted ankles or feet.

Helps with pain
Massages are a great way to decrease pain and aches in the feet. The pressure applied can help the tissues relax and soothe the nerves. Foot massages might also be helpful if someone is dealing with aches and pains in other parts of their body. For example, they may help people with backaches, lower back problems, neck pain, neck stiffness, headaches, migraines, hip mobility issues, and thigh pain. Remember, the pressure points in the foot are connected to various other body parts.

Boosts immunity
Our feet are susceptible entry points for numerous infection- and disease-causing microorganisms. Think about infections like nail fungus and athlete’s foot. People can easily contract these when exposed to locker rooms, swimming pools, and community showers. When a person has regular foot massages, they provide the tissues in their legs and feet with improved oxygen and white blood cell supply. This can help fight fungal infections and other conditions. Massages can also bring down the inflammation levels in the body that contribute to the weakening immune system. A simple massage can, therefore, play a crucial role in protecting against infections and enhancing one’s immune function.

Improves feet health
People with flat feet often experience pain when walking. In this condition, the feet lack the arches and natural curves. In severe cases, the pain might be present even when resting. Those with flat feet can opt for deep tissue massages to strengthen their foot muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This can help improve the overall health of the feet and reduce the pain.

Helps manage headaches
Foot massages have also proven helpful for headaches and migraines. However, there is a need for more research and concrete evidence. The massages are believed to help as they improve blood and oxygen supply to the body. Regularly experimenting with foot massages might help patients better manage the frequency and intensity of their migraine episodes. It might also be beneficial for people dealing with PMS-induced mood swings and headaches.

Improves circulation
Improved blood circulation is among the top benefits of getting foot massages. A foot massage enhances blood supply to the feet and other body tissues. Improved circulation, in turn, heals some amount of damage caused by a lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and a sedentary lifestyle. Since the feet are farthest from the heart, they are the first to be impacted when someone’s body has poor circulation. It can give rise to coldness in the feet, numbness, tingling, pain, and other symptoms. If a person gets a simple foot massage daily, it can help get rid of all these problems. It can also improve one’s bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Popular Reads

11 useful tips for anxiety management

Nearly 84% of participants in a particular mental health survey were said to have some form of anxiety. The severity of symptoms did vary from person to person, but the fact remains that we live in a world where almost everything is a potential trigger for anxiety. And living in denial about having a psychological trigger only worsens the problem. Luckily, it is possible to manage anxiety by following the suggestions recommended by experts. Identify the triggers Anxiety is mainly triggered due to an event or episode where one finds themselves in a difficult position. It could be something that puts a person out of their comfort zone. Doctors advise people to identify these triggers and avoid them. Any comment, action, or situation that did not work out in favor triggers anxiety. So, make a list of such events and instances and ignore them the next time something happens related to that event. At the same time, try to remain positive as it can help strengthen the mind to manage anxiety better. Keep busy Distraction is one of the simplest ways to prevent a panic or anxiety attack. You can perform simple chores or indulge in a favorite task to stay physically and mentally occupied for a few hours. When the mind is occupied, there is hardly any scope for negative thoughts to trigger unnecessary overthinking. Some creative activities to boost cognitive performance include taking a walk, painting, drawing, listening to music, meditating, praying, and reading. You can opt for any of these to stay busy. Try mindfulness techniques Deep breathing and mindfulness techniques have helped thousands overcome their fear or anxiety time and again. Focused deep breathing is a method where one inhales for four counts and exhales for the same duration; this is practiced for minutes. It helps lower heart rate, which, in turn, calms the mind and body.

Atrial fibrillation – Causes, symptoms, and management tips

The human heart is susceptible to several health complications, including atrial fibrillation (AFib). The condition is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia, which is a term describing when the heart beats unusually slowly, fast, or irregularly. AFib is estimated to affect between 2.7 million to 6.1 million individuals in the country. An individual with the complication experiences irregular beating in the heart’s upper chambers, affecting blood flow, leading to health complications. Causes Irregularities in the structure of the heart are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Sometimes people may develop the condition without any known heart damage or problems. Risk factors like age may also contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation. Other potential causes of the phenomenon include a heart attack, sick sinus syndrome – issues with the heart’s natural pacemaker, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defect – A heart defect that an individual might be born with, high blood pressure, lung diseases, heart valve problems, use of stimulants, including certain prescriptions and caffeine, physical stress caused due to pneumonia, other illnesses, and also surgery, sleep apnea, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), metabolic imbalances, viral infections, and complications due to earlier heart surgery. Symptoms A person who develops atrial fibrillation may not notice symptoms, and the condition is detected only after a physical examination. But some people experience signs and symptoms before a diagnosis. A few common symptoms of AFib include being unable to exercise to one’s full potential, feelings of weakness, throbbing pain in the chest, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations and sensations of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat, and feeling extremely fatigued. Therefore, the symptoms of atrial fibrillation differ from one person to the other. Occasional symptoms (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) Here, a person may experience something that lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Macular degeneration – Types, causes, and remedies

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects a person’s vision and develops as people age. This progressive eye disorder involves the deterioration of the macula, which is a part of the eye’s retina. It is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults and may develop in one or both eyes. This condition is of two main types – dry and wet. Read further to learn about the disorder, its causes, and its types. Dry macular degeneration People are more likely to have dry macular degeneration than wet form. It is also less severe and develops when tiny yellow protein deposits under the macula. These deposits dry and thin the macula, causing gradual central vision loss while the peripheral vision remains intact. In the advanced stages, the dry form can progress to the wet form. People with dry macular degeneration need to test their eyes daily at home using an Amsler grid. One must consult a health expert immediately if any vision changes are observed. Wet macular degeneration In this condition, the blood vessels grow beneath the retina and macula and cause blood and fluid to leak into the retina. This build-up of fluid results in scarring, leading to permanent loss of central vision. The wet form can cause a sudden change in eyesight resulting in a severe loss of centralized vision when left untreated. People with wet macular degeneration may require repeated treatments. Symptoms Macular degeneration may not cause any symptoms during the early stages. However, as the condition progresses, it can cause distortion and blurry vision. It can result in difficulty reading, driving, and identifying colors. Macular degeneration occurs mainly in people aged over 50. Blurred vision Dark, blurry areas appear in the center of the vision, leading to increased blurriness in reading printed words. Visual distortion The person may experience visual distortions, such as straight lines that look wavy or crooked, and objects may appear distorted.