Alternative Approaches in Stress Reduction - Essay Example

Besides behavioral and cognitive methods of stress management, other approaches have been proposed for this purpose like massage therapy and diet modification. Massage not only involves manipulation of physical and functional aspects of the body, but also psychological aspects. This is achieved by reducing anxiety and depression caused due to high blood pressure. Theoretically, massage is said to act by reducing the heart rate and blood pressure, stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin, increases the flow of lymph and improves sleep (Moyer, Rounds and Hannum, 2004).

Enormous research has been conducted which has established a relation between dietary type and increased levels of hypertension, blood pressure, diabetes and other health ailments that are also associated with stress. Increased stress instances caused due to these health issues are found to be more in people consuming high fat and carbohydrate. Modification in food habits, like consuming food rich in protein, fiber, nutrients, calcium etc have yielded substantial results in reducing body weight, cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, and also blood pressure.

Reduced salt and sugar intake have also lowered blood pressure and blood glucose. Hence, modification in diet along with reducing or eliminating risk factors such as smoking can help to a large extent in reducing stress levels (Billings, 2008).