Womens_HealthAustralia-February_2017

health

Somato emotional

release is the experience

of expelling pent-up

feelings (sometimes with

laughing or crying)

through massage. Some

touch therapists claim

muscles hold the energy

of negative emotions, but

hard science says it’s

more about relaxation.

“Massage has been

shown to decrease stress

hormones and improve

mood,” says Dr Maria

Hernandez-Reif, a human

development researcher

at the University of

Alabama. But don’t

expect massage or foam

rolling to solve serious

psychological problems

• you still need formal

counselling for that.

ROLL OUT

THE SADS

Be Still My Heart

A pounding ticker after a 5k is par for the course,

but here’s how to read an offbeat rhythm.

Phew!

It’s rare and

you can

pinpoint

the cause

Alcohol,

caffeine,

intense

exercise and

some cold

and flu drugs

can cause

funky

flutters, so if

you can trace

it to one of

the above,

you’re

probably in

the clear.

Eep!

You have

irregular

beats on

the reg

Not sure

what’s to

blame and

notice a not-

right rhythm

often (say,

twice a

month?). See

a doc to rule

out high

blood

pressure,

thyroid or

heart issues.

Yikes

You’re

struck

by other

symptoms

Dizzy, weak,

short of

breath or

feel chest

pressure? Get

to a hospital

asap. These

are signs of

serious heart

problems

that can raise

your risk for

stroke and

heart attack

by five times*.

PERCENTAGE BY

WHICH ANXIETY IS

REDUCED WHEN

LISTENING TO THE

SONG ‘WEIGHTLESS’

BY MARCONI UNION.

Source: Mindlab

International

EMOTIONAL

ROLLER

COASTER

FEBRUARY 2017 womenshealth.com.au 25

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*SOURCE: CARDIOLOGIST DR JANE A LEOPOLD. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES