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Welcome to our February Newsletter! We hope everyone is having a wonderful 2010 so far.
Don't forget to book your Couples Massages for Valentine's Day weekend! Our Couples Suite always books up fast during the week of Valentine's Day. If you don't have time to book a Couples Massage, a massage gift certificate makes a wonderful Valentine's Day gift! |
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Laughter is the Best Medicine
 It's a well-known saying that may actually be true, according to a number of studies. Evidence suggests laughter is a true health promoter, helping reduce stress, boost your heart rate, increase circulation, and even burn calories.
For example, laughter helps combat stress, which is well-known to decrease immune-system response. Less stress means a better immune system, making your body less prone to infection and disease. Reducing stress levels also makes it easier to fall asleep, and poor and/or inadequate sleep can contribute to a whole host of negative health consequences.
But how could laughter possibly burn calories? It's actually a simple concept, if you think about it: When you laugh, your body moves in various ways; muscles throughout the body stretch and, depending on the strength of the laugh, your abdomen and other areas of the body may even contract repeatedly. Now that's a workout and a laugh all in one! |
11 Ways to Get a Great Night's Sleep
 Limit exercise and other stressful activities immediately before bedtime.
- Remove all distractions from the bedroom that could keep you from sleeping.
- Organize your life so you can get to bed at a consistent time each night.
- Sleep on a regular schedule: 4.5, 6, 7.5 or nine hours is ideal because it marks the completion of a sleep cycle.
- Buy a pedestal fan to help you sleep deeply; point it at your face (not too close to cause sinus problems).
- Make sure your bed, mattress and pillow are comfortable enough to sleep through the night.
- Don't drink liquids so close to bedtime that you need to get up in the middle of the night.
- If you need to fall asleep to TV, music or with lights on, program a sleep timer so they'll go off at a certain time.
- Minimize or eliminate medication use for pain/sleep/depression if possible.
- Use natural supplements (only if needed and with advice from your doctor).
- If you're experiencing sleep problems, talk to your doctor and keep a sleep journal for a few weeks.
David Ryan, BS, DC |
Music to Your Heart
They say music can soothe the soul, but did you know it may also improve your heart health? Research presented at the 2009 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain suggests music therapy reduces blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome - any of a collection of symptoms, such as chest pain, brought on by sudden reduced blood flow to the heart. Even more significantly, the researchers found that music therapy was also effective at reducing the incidence of future heart-related events, including the big one: sudden death.
All of the patients in the study had heart issues serious enough to necessitate revascularization, a surgical procedure designed to restore blood flow where it has been compromised or limited. That meant they were at risk for a future coronary event not only because of their heart health status, but also because the fear of a potential repeat surgery likely increased their stress and anxiety, which is never good for the heart.
 And what type of music did the patients listen to during the study? Classical music appeared to be the general preference, but the lead author of the study emphasizes that music therapy may actually have a negative effect if patients are forced to listen to music they don't like, suggesting that the type of music (within reason) is not as important as whether you enjoy listening to it and how it affects your overall mood and stress levels.
So, whether you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, heart disease or a related heart condition, are at risk for any of the above, or just want to keep your cardiovascular system in the best shape possible (why wouldn't you?), charge up your iPod and let your favorite tunes lead you down the road to a lifetime of health and wellness. |
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