What You Need to Know About Residential Plumbing

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Residential plumbing covers the water and waste systems inside personal dwellings like homes, apartments, and condos. It is more specialized than commercial plumbing, and plumbers who focus on this area have experience dealing with the specific needs of homeowners.

Clean water enters a home through supply pipes, while dirty water exits through drain pipes into the sewer system or septic tank. Let’s take a look at how these pipes are constructed and what problems they might cause. Visit https://www.apexdoyourplumbing.com/efficient-tampa-emergency-plumber/ to learn more.

Plumbing

Your plumbing system performs a vital role in your home, bringing in fresh water and removing wastewater. There are several different types of pipes used for this process, and it’s important to understand them all so you can make informed decisions about your household’s pipes.

Supply pipes are used to bring water into your house from municipal lines. They are typically made from galvanized steel or copper. They have a protective zinc coating that prevents corrosion in wet environments. This is what makes them so durable, even when they are subject to high pressures. They are usually sized according to their diameter, which is measured in millimeters. The most common sizes are 15 mm and 22 mm.

Copper pipes are a popular choice for water supply lines because they are resistant to corrosion and durable enough for hot and cold temperatures. They are also a good choice in tight spaces because they can bend easily. These pipes can be more expensive than alternatives, such as PVC, but they are a safe and healthy option for transporting potable water.

If your home was built in the last 10 to 20 years, it is likely outfitted with PVC pipes. This flexible plastic is a great alternative to copper and galvanized steel because it is easy to work with and less expensive than other materials. It’s also highly durable and is available in a wide range of thicknesses to support your home’s plumbing needs.

A newer alternative to PVC is PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene. This is another durable plastic that’s becoming more popular for residential plumbing. It can be bent in a variety of ways to fit through walls, ceilings and floors, making it easier to connect and less prone to leaks than rigid pipes.

You may also find older homes with galvanized steel or cast iron pipes. These aren’t ideal for modern plumbing, but they can still be found in northern Utah in older houses that haven’t been updated. They are often replaced with PVC, copper or PEX piping during renovations and upgrades.

Drain Pipes

Running water is taken for granted in most homes, but the pipes that carry it are under considerable stress. They transport pressurized water under high temperatures and at fast rates, and they have to endure repeated stress from being pushed and pulled by the movement of water within. In addition, they are vulnerable to damage from external sources. These are only a few of the challenges that drain and sewer pipes must face.

Residential plumbing pipes are typically made from either copper or one of the plastics polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The most common drain pipe material seen today in newer homes is PVC, though steel is still used in some older homes. Drain pipes are usually plumbed with a slope that directs wastewater away from the home and towards the municipal sewer line or on-site septic system.

All drain lines end at the main drainage system, which is typically located in the lowest part of the house. In many modern homes, this is a network of underground sewer pipes that are designed to carry all wastewater and solid wastes to the city’s main sewer lines or an on-site septic system.

In the past, most home drain lines were constructed from cast iron or galvanized steel. While these are still used in some homes built before 1960, they are less popular due to their vulnerability to rust and corrosion. If you own a home with these pipes, it is recommended that you consult a professional about drain pipe lining services to help extend their lifespan.

If you have drains in your home that are prone to clogs, you can prevent problems by keeping a close eye on what is being flushed down the toilets and washing machines. Items like feminine products, excess paper and grease can cause a buildup that reduces water flow. Educating household members about proper disposal practices can also be helpful.

When drain pipes are damaged, a professional can use a method called drain lining to restore them. This involves placing a thin layer of a polymer inside the existing pipe to help reduce friction and promote water flow. It is an alternative to replacing the entire pipe, which requires digging up the ground and disrupting the natural environment.

Vent Pipes

Behind walls and underneath floors, there’s a lot going on with your home’s drainage system. While most people are aware of the drain pipes that carry wastewater and sewage out of homes, many are unaware of the plumbing vent pipes that are also important for keeping residential drainage systems working properly.

Unlike drain pipes, which are sloped to allow water to flow down toward the sewer line, vent pipes do not have any slope and are not intended for any kind of water flow. Rather, they are designed to regulate air pressure inside drain pipes, eliminating vacuum effects and preventing dangerous sewer gases from finding their way into living spaces.

A plumbing vent pipe, sometimes called a vent stack or plumbing vent, is a vertical pipe that you can see sticking up out of the roof of any house. It’s important to have a functioning vent system since all drain pipes must be able to replace the air that is drawn in when water flows down them. Without a proper replacement, negative pressure could cause a siphon effect that would draw up the remaining water in P-traps and force it into living areas, while positive pressure might push sewage back up into sinks and tubs and create a gurgling sound.

To prevent these problems, all drain pipes must be paired with a vent pipe. Often, this pair will be a true vent pipe, which attaches directly to the drain line and runs up through the roof without letting any water pass through it, as well as a re-vent or auxiliary vent. Re-vent and auxiliary pipes attach to the drain lines near specific fixtures, running up and over to connect with the main vent pipe that goes up through the roof.

A good way to tell if you have an issue with your plumbing vents is by noticing if there are noticeable sewage odors near any drains in your home. If you do smell a strong odor, you likely have a blockage in one or more of your vent pipes, and it’s time to call a professional plumber to inspect and repair your drain system.

Traps

The plumbing traps found underneath your sinks, washbasins, tubs and toilets serve a vital purpose. They prevent sewer gasses and foul odors from flowing back into the living space from the drain pipes, keeping your home smelling clean and fresh. They also help block the entrance of pests and vermin into your drains, protecting your family from diseases transmitted by these unwanted creatures.

A plumbing trap is a U-shaped section of pipe located beneath a fixture, with one end attached to the drain and the other end connected to the pipe that extends down to the main wastewater system. The curved section of the pipe holds water when the fixture is turned off, which creates a water seal that stops the entry of foul sewer gases into the home.

There are many different types of traps available on the market, but most residential homes have P-traps installed in their drains. These are the most popular and are generally considered to be the safest type of trap available for residential use. A P-trap is a simple design that works well in most situations.

While it is true that some clogs in your kitchen sink are caused by hair, grease and other debris that settles in the trap, most of these clogs are actually caused by the plumbing drain itself. These clogs often occur in the bends of the trap, where solids can build up and obstruct the flow of waste water.

A common problem with traps is that they can dry out and allow sewer gasses to escape into the home. This can happen if the trap is not flushed regularly with water or if it is allowed to remain empty for extended periods of time. To prevent this, you should always flush your traps after each use and keep them filled with water at all times.

It is important to note that most modern residential plumbing codes now require P-traps for all new installations, and that S-traps should be replaced whenever possible in older homes. If you are replacing a drain, you should consider using a piping configuration that is more compatible with the new style of trap. For instance, you should never use corrugated pipe under a sink, as this is prone to clogging and is often listed as a defect in home inspection reports.

Why Sealcoating Is a Cost-Effective Maintenance Option

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Sealcoating isn’t just a maintenance task—it’s a crucial one that significantly slows down the natural asphalt degradation process and extends your pavement surface’s lifespan. It also reduces the need for costly repairs.

Refined coal tar or asphalt emulsion is mixed with fine bits of aggregate, fillers, and additives, plus water to create a liquid sealcoat. Before applying, the pavement must be completely clean to ensure a strong bond. Visit https://www.rochesternysealcoating.com/ to learn more.

Sealcoating

Asphalt is the material that paved the streets and highways we drive on, and it’s also commonly used as the surface for driveways and parking lots. It’s an incredibly durable material, and with proper maintenance can last 20-30 years. But when left neglected, asphalt can become damaged and develop cracks or potholes that will require expensive repair or replacement.

The best way to prevent this from happening is by sealcoating your pavement regularly. Sealcoating is a liquid layer that’s added over your paved surfaces to protect them from the sun’s UV rays, rain and snow, chemicals from gas and oil, and other harmful substances. It can’t repair existing damage, like cracks, but it does help to limit future damage by keeping out these elements.

When properly applied, sealcoat creates a smooth, even color and appearance over your asphalt surfaces that’s like new. It’s important to choose the right time to apply the sealant, though. If the weather is too cold or hot, the sealant won’t dry or adhere to the surface properly. It’s also vital to make sure your asphalt is free of grease stains, raised spots, and cracks before you sealcoat it.

In addition to protecting the asphalt, sealcoating can improve your curb appeal and make your business or property look more appealing and professional. This can be especially important if you have a storefront that faces a street or a driveway that faces your home. A clean, well-maintained asphalt surface will attract customers and increase the value of your property.

Not only will a professionally-applied sealcoat protect your asphalt, but it will also save you money on repairs and maintenance costs. When you have a professional install a sealcoat and apply it to your pavement every few years, it can extend the lifespan of your asphalt significantly. This can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, as you won’t need to pay for costly repairs or replacements.

Keeps It Looking Great

A driveway or parking lot that hasn’t been properly maintained will start to show signs of wear and tear. Eventually, these signs can lead to more expensive repairs. By applying a fresh layer of seal coat on a regular basis, you can protect your pavement from damage and extend its life. In addition, your driveway or parking lot will have a beautiful black finish that will add to its curb appeal and make it look newer.

Aside from preventing cracks, an asphalt sealcoat will also help to prevent water damage. Water tends to soak into untreated asphalt and can spread cracks or cause severe deterioration over time. When you have a seal coat applied, it creates a barrier that helps to keep water on top of the surface where it can evaporate.

In addition to protecting your pavement from water damage, a sealcoat will help to keep debris out. Dirt, sand, gravel and other unwanted material can get stuck in the cracks of your pavement and cause serious damage. Sealcoating will keep these materials out, allowing you to use your pavement for years to come.

If you’re looking to sell or rent out your home, a clean and well-maintained driveway will improve the appearance of your property and increase its value. Sealcoating your driveway will not only make it look great, but it’ll save you from expensive repairs in the future.

Asphalt is a resilient material that can withstand the elements, but it does need to be sealed and protected from water damage and other hazards. By keeping up with your sealcoating schedule, you can extend the life of your asphalt and keep it in excellent condition for years to come.

The best time to sealcoat your asphalt is in the summer, when temperatures are high and there are more hours of sunlight for drying. However, the surface of your pavement needs to be free of dirt, debris and other contaminants before you can apply a seal coat. If you have trouble getting rid of these contaminants, a power wash may be necessary before the asphalt can be sealed again.

Prevents Cracks

Just like you might pack sunscreen for a sunny island vacation, paving professionals recommend sealcoating asphalt before the first signs of cracking begin. It’s the protective layer that protects your parking lot from water damage, harsh UV rays and other environmental factors that cause damage to asphalt over time.

This process helps extend the life of your asphalt pavement and prevents costly repairs down the line. The first step in this process involves thoroughly evaluating the existing cracks to determine their severity and cause. This evaluation often includes visual inspection of the cracks to assess their depth and width as well as utilizing specialized tools to measure the extent of the cracks. This comprehensive assessment enables the appropriate treatment to be applied, which often involves crack filling or sealcoating.

The primary reason for cracks in asphalt is the oxidation process. This occurs when the sun’s UV rays attack the binder or glue that holds together the asphalt. While sealcoating can’t stop the oxidation completely, it significantly slows it down, which extends your pavement’s lifespan.

Additionally, sealcoating provides a waterproof barrier that keeps water from seeping into the underlying layers of the asphalt and degrading it over time. It also enhances the overall appearance of your parking lot, adding a deep rich black finish that adds curb appeal and increases property value.

However, sealcoating does not address potholes or alligator cracking. These types of cracks require more extensive repair, which is why it’s important to follow the proper maintenance sequence for your asphalt surface.

When choosing a maintenance strategy for your commercial parking lot, it’s important to evaluate the various factors at play to ensure that the selected method aligns with your precise asphalt needs as well as long-term maintenance goals and budget considerations. Ultimately, sealcoating offers the best approach for safeguarding asphalt pavement over time, preventing cracks from expanding into major problems and extending the interval between expensive milling and paving projects.

Saves Money

One of the main reasons property owners choose to invest in pavement sealcoating is because it’s a cost-effective way to save money on asphalt maintenance. Without it, asphalt surfaces will deteriorate quickly and eventually need repair or replacement, which is expensive. On the other hand, investing in a good sealcoat every few years will keep your asphalt looking great and prevent costly repairs in the future.

The cost of a sealcoat will vary depending on the size of your surface and how much it needs to be done. For example, a residential driveway will be cheaper to sealcoat than a commercial parking lot. The amount of cracks and chips also affects the price as larger areas will require more repair materials than smaller ones. However, even if you have a large area to sealcoat, the costs will be lower than replacing your entire asphalt surface.

Another way that sealcoating will save you money is by preventing accidents on your property. Uneven and damaged pavement is dangerous for drivers and pedestrians and can lead to injuries or lawsuits. With a sealcoat applied on a regular basis, you’ll be able to keep your asphalt surface in good condition and avoid accidents that could lead to costly lawsuits and higher insurance premiums for your business.

Finally, the curb appeal of your home or business will be improved with a well-maintained asphalt surface. Cracks, potholes, and other damage detract from the appearance of your property and make it look less appealing to potential buyers or tenants. A fresh sealcoat will fill in these imperfections and give your property a clean, professional appearance that will boost its value and attract more visitors.

If you have any more questions about the benefits of sealcoating, please contact us! We’d love to help you with your next asphalt maintenance project. Just remember that it’s important to fix any cracks or damage before applying sealant to ensure it will last.

Virtual Urgent Care: Revolutionizing Access to Immediate Medical Attention

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JetMED Mesa  -Virtual Urgent Care Mesa is a safe and convenient way to get health care when you don’t need emergency help. It’s a video visit with an urgent care provider over your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Virtual Urgent Care

The telehealth visit will be recorded in your MyChart account and shared with your primary care physician. It’s also insurance- and Health Savings Account-eligible.

Virtual urgent care can help when your doctor’s office is closed, or you have urgent but non-life-threatening symptoms like a fever, sore throat, minor burn, or sprain/strain. It can also be used as a pre-treatment step for in-person clinic visits, reducing wait times and freeing up valuable in-person time for patients with more complicated issues.

As healthcare continues to evolve in the pandemic, telehealth is an important tool that can be used for both acute and chronic conditions. Many hospital-based programs are implementing a virtual care option, allowing patients to use their smartphone or laptop to connect with a doctor remotely for an eVisit (video consultation). By streamlining the process of accessing medical advice, telehealth is a convenient, effective and affordable way to keep patients healthy and safe.

Virtual Urgent Care, as well as telehealth in general, bridges the gap between patients and their physicians. Cumbersome commutes to the doctor’s office or long waits at the ER can be replaced by a quick video call with an urgent care provider from the comfort of home. And, with a 91% patient satisfaction rating, telehealth has proven to be a great way for people to get the medical attention they need in a timely and efficient manner.

During a Virtual Urgent Care visit, you will be connected to a board-certified physician who will evaluate your symptoms and determine an appropriate course of treatment. Once the visit is completed, your physician will share the results of the visit, as well as any prescriptions or referrals required for follow-up care, through your electronic health record in MyChart.

While the cost of a Virtual Urgent Care visit is significantly less than an emergency room visit, it’s important to note that this type of visit should not be considered for life-threatening symptoms, such as chest pain or difficulty breathing. Using virtual care to treat non-emergency symptoms can help relieve the over-burdened urgent care clinics and emergency departments, ensuring that those who are most in need of immediate in-person medical attention receive it as quickly as possible. This can ultimately reduce healthcare system costs and the burden on our communities.

Saves You Time

Virtual urgent care (also known as telemedicine) provides an on-demand, safe, convenient and cost-effective pathway to health care. It can be used to support a visit to an in-person urgent care clinic, or can be a bridge between a patient’s primary care doctor and specialist or emergency room. In fact, one study found that virtual urgent care visits result in fewer trips to the emergency department than traditional walk-ins and saved patients more than $3 million in out-of-pocket costs.

When illness strikes, it can be hard to find the time to get to the urgent care clinic. It’s even worse if you wake up with a stomach bug at 1 am and realize your local clinic is closed until morning. Fortunately, virtual care is available to address the need for non-emergency medical attention at any time, day or night.

The benefits of a virtual urgent care appointment don’t end with convenience, however. Studies show that a virtual care visit can save patients up to 340 minutes in total, including the time they spend traveling and at the clinic. And for employees in the workforce, this translates to more hours at work, less absenteeism, and higher productivity.

Another benefit of virtual care is that it can help ease the pressure on in-person healthcare systems and urgent care clinics that are overburdened by demand during an outbreak or pandemic. By funneling many patients with minor illnesses and injuries away from these facilities, a virtuocare visit can free up space for those who truly need immediate in-person care.

To participate in a virtual care appointment, you or your child will need a smartphone or tablet with a camera and an internet connection. Before your visit, prepare by having a list of symptoms and a clear photo ready. You may also want to consider preparing your device the day before by ensuring it has a good battery life and that sound is working properly. And remember, this is a video visit, so you’ll need to be in a place where you can safely talk and listen to the doctor without interruptions.

Saves Money

Virtual healthcare is a cost-effective alternative to in-person visits for non-emergent conditions. By eliminating the overhead costs of physical healthcare facilities, providers can pass these savings on to patients. Cash-pay healthcare marketplace Sesame, for instance, offers appointments with board-certified urgent care providers at a fraction of the price of an in-person visit.

Another way virtual care helps save money is by reducing overcrowding in in-person healthcare settings. The CDC estimates that over half of all emergency department and urgent care clinic visits are for conditions that could be treated with telehealth, such as sinus infections, allergies, minor injuries, ear infections, sore throats and abdominal pain. By redirecting these visits, the system frees up valuable in-person healthcare resources that can be better used to address true emergencies.

Moreover, telehealth is often less expensive than in-person medical services because it eliminates the need for costly imaging and lab tests. It also removes the need to travel to a physician’s office, making it an appealing option for those who are too sick or injured to leave home.

Finally, virtual care is a much more affordable alternative to visiting an in-person emergency room, which can run hundreds of dollars for just one visit. And, according to a recent Cigna study, patients who use telehealth services are more likely to avoid ER and urgent care visits in the future.

NYP Connect is a virtual urgent care service that provides real-time access to a board-certified Columbia or Weill Cornell doctor through the mobile app. Appointments can be scheduled 24/7, 365 days a year for conditions such as ear infections, fevers, skin problems and more. The doctor can then issue a prescription electronically to your local pharmacy, which is convenient for out-of-town visitors or those on vacation.

All visits are recorded in your Epic MyChart account and shared with your primary care provider. Your care team can use the information from the telehealth appointment to coordinate your next steps in-person. And, if you need to transfer to an in-person urgent care or the emergency room for further evaluation or treatment, your virtual visit will help ensure that transition is seamless.

Meet Your Provider

Virtual Urgent Care is a convenient and safe way to get medical attention when you need it most. It’s perfect for daytime injuries or illnesses, late-night ear infections or fevers, and symptoms that you just need an expert’s opinion on. The service offers the same world-class care you expect from UR Medicine without ever leaving your home. All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone and a stable internet connection.

After a short registration process, you’ll enter the digital waiting room and wait for a Geisinger healthcare provider to become available. Once the provider connects with you, they will ask you some short questions to evaluate your symptoms and then provide a treatment plan. A typical visit lasts 15 minutes or less.

You’ll then be asked to confirm your identity and address, so make sure you have these handy before you start your telehealth appointment. You’ll also need to be in a private, quiet, well-lit space where you can see your healthcare provider. This includes not being in your car or doing the virtual visit from a moving vehicle (it can be unsafe and distracting). You’ll also want to be close enough to hear your healthcare provider, so a private bathroom is a good option.

Your provider can also order lab work or X-rays and send your prescription directly to your local pharmacy. If they think your condition needs to be treated with an injection or a steroid shot, they can do that too.

A key benefit of Virtual Urgent Care is that your healthcare provider will have access to your UH medical records, and your primary care doctor will be able to follow up on any recommendations from the telehealth visit. If your condition requires further care, it’s easy to transition to an in-person urgent care or emergency room visit.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, online telehealth visits have become even more popular. It’s a great way to get the care you need, when you need it, so that you can stay home and get better faster. Just keep in mind that if you have life-threatening symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing or major bleeding, it’s best to head to an emergency room or call 911.

How Massage Therapy Can Help Treat a Variety of Health Problems

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Massage Therapy Tulsa can be used to treat a variety of health problems. It can reduce back pain, ease depression and anxiety, and even promote healing after surgery or cancer treatments.

Massage Therapy

Massage may help to relieve pain by a number of mechanisms, including relaxing painful muscles and tendons; stimulating competing nerve fibers to block pain signals; and triggering the release of endorphins and other natural pain-killing substances.

Stress is a physiological response to situations that cause our body and mind to feel overwhelmed. It can be caused by anything from a bad day at work to chronic illness and disease. Unfortunately, high levels of stress can increase pain, especially in people with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and cancer.

Massage therapy is known to decrease stress by lowering the heart rate and relaxing muscles and soft tissue in the body. It also stimulates the release of feel good hormones called endorphins, which calms the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for the communication relay between the brain and extremities. This allows for messages of calmness and relaxation to be sent out, thereby decreasing feelings of stress.

Additionally, massage can lower cortisol levels and increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that stabilize moods. As a result, people who receive massages often experience less depression and anxiety.

Research shows that massages improve sleep quality. This is partly due to the fact that they can help reduce stress, which often leads to better sleep patterns. In addition, studies show that massages can decrease insomnia, a common symptom in people with a wide variety of health conditions.

In addition, massages are known to improve sleep quality by reducing the symptoms of chronic pain, such as muscle tension and headaches. They can also be helpful in alleviating sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, insomnia and restless leg syndrome. People who have a hard time falling asleep are also often helped by massages, as they can be calming and allow for the deep breathing that is needed to fall asleep. Massage therapy is also a great way to alleviate anxiety and depression, which can be caused by sleep problems.

Improves Sleep

While everyone has a sleepless night from time to time, chronic insomnia can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, says the Centers for Disease Control. Fortunately, massage therapy has been proven to improve sleeping patterns by lowering stress hormones and promoting relaxation.

A massage can increase the release of serotonin and melatonin, two hormones that help to reset the body’s circadian rhythm, which is essential for a good night’s sleep. In addition, a massage can reduce cortisol, which causes increased blood pressure, heart rate and the fight-or-flight reaction that keeps people awake.

In addition, a massage can ease the discomfort of restless legs syndrome, which is characterized by a tingling or creepy-crawly sensation in the feet and legs that makes it difficult to fall asleep. This condition is usually caused by tight muscles that are aggravated by anxiety or medication and can be relieved with massage therapy.

Even if you’re not dealing with any physical pain, a relaxing massage can still help you to sleep better. In fact, a recent study found that those who received a full-body Swedish massage experienced a 30 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol than those who didn’t get a massage.

The benefits of massage extend to all types of people, including children and the elderly. But, it’s important to consult with your doctor before you get a massage, especially if you have certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or cardiac problems. In addition, some massage modalities, such as deep tissue and sports, may not be appropriate for people with these conditions. However, if you’re struggling with sleep disorders or just need a good night’s rest, ask your local spa about the best type of massage to help you relax.

Relieves Muscle Tension

Massage decreases muscle tension by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Additionally, it increases blood flow to the area which helps remove waste products and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the soft tissue. This helps to break down adhesions in the muscles which further decreases tension and tightness.

Another way massage relieves muscle tension is by increasing elasticity in the muscle tissue. Poor elasticity limits movement and can lead to injury. Massage therapy helps to increase muscle elasticity by relaxing the muscles, separating and loosening muscle fibres, and breaking down adhesions. It also promotes the proper alignment of muscle fibres which leads to improved flexibility.

Remedial massage uses techniques like deep tissue and trigger point to release knots in the muscles and soft tissues. This type of massage is often used for chronic pain and sports injuries. It may be a great option for people with chronic pain conditions and can help reduce the amount of medications needed to manage symptoms.

Popular massage styles such as Swedish and deep tissue improve circulation and flexibility while reducing stress. They also calm the nervous system and lower heart rate which helps reduce anxiety and depression. Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nerves which triggers the “rest and digest” response. This causes the heart rate to slow down, breathing to slow, and production of stress hormones to decrease.

Athletes use a variety of massage approaches to enhance performance. This includes pre-event preparation, post event recovery, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Sports massages focus on the muscle systems that are used for a specific sport, and they can include stretching and assisted stretching. It can also help athletes recover faster after exercise.

Reduces Inflammation

Many studies support the idea that massage lowers inflammation and increases circulation. This promotes healing and allows oxygen and nutrients to reach all of your muscles and cells. This also helps to reduce pain and stiffness.

The way that massage affects inflammatory signaling in the muscle depends on the type of manipulation and massage technique used. For example, a deep tissue massage uses slower strokes that target deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage is often used to assist with the healing of sports injuries or chronic problems.

Another type of massage is called trigger point therapy. This focuses on tight, sensitive muscle fibers that create referred pain in specific muscle patterns. This massage can help to release these muscle fibers, which improves the range of motion and flexibility of your joints.

A study performed by researchers at McMaster University found that massage reduces the inflammatory response in skeletal muscle. The researchers used muscle biopsy to analyze the cellular responses of muscle tissue after massage. They found that massage reduced the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in the muscle cells.

One of the ways that massage reduces inflammation is by stimulating the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system flushes waste products and excess fluids from the muscle tissues, which reduces swelling and improves recovery from injury. A massage can stimulate this system through a variety of long, directional strokes that push the fluids and waste towards different glands for removal from the body.

Another way that massage can reduce inflammation is by decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines. The authors of the McMaster study suggest that identifying the specific cell-signaling pathways affected by massage will enhance our understanding of the proper clinical application of this treatment.

Relieves Pain

During massage, the skin and fingers create friction that encourages blood flow. This in turn, carries oxygen and nutrients to the area of muscle tissue that has been damaged or is sore. This can help reduce swelling and stiffness, and speed up the healing process.

In addition to its physical effects, massage can also decrease pain. It does this by interrupting or overwhelming the nerves that report pain in injured tissue, called nociceptors. The nociceptors send a signal to the brain that causes the body to experience discomfort, but a good massage therapist can also stimulate the nerves that block or inhibit these signals, called descending inhibitory pain fibers.

It has also been found that massage therapy lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases serotonin, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. This may be due to the fact that massage triggers the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is responsible for calming the body after a stressful event.

Research has also shown that massage can increase the activity of cytokines, which are cells that help fight inflammation in the body. In addition, massage can improve lymphatic drainage by stimulating the lympathic vessels that transport waste products towards glands and nodes in the body.

As with any treatment, it is important to communicate with your massage therapist about the amount of pressure you prefer and your comfort level. If you feel that the massage is painful or uncomfortable, let your therapist know so that they can make adjustments. It is best to do this before the session begins, but you can also speak up during the massage if you feel that the pressure is too much.