Hypertension refers to a raising of the blood pressure from its normal values of 115 (+-2) mmHg systolic and 75 (+- 10) mmHg diastolic.
Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries.
Hypertension can cause damage to the heart. This is largely because of the great effort required to push the blood against the resistance offered by the arterial’s pressure.
Severe hypertension can cause:
- Severe headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Visual disturbances
- Seizure
Massage application:
Massage is applied to reduce the stress levels that are frequently implicated in this condition. Relaxation elicits a reduction in sympathetic activity and, therefore, a lower intensity of vaso-constriction in the arterial walls. The resistance to the flow of blood is thereby reduced.