What are the Benefits of Compression Therapy?

Compression therapy is a popular spa treatment designed to increase circulation in specific parts of the body, typically the legs.

While many of us may be used to wearing compression socks while taking a long flight, compression garments can be incredibly effective at treating a number of conditions and medical complaints. You might need to wear them on a regular basis to relieve discomfort and encourage movement in affected limbs.

What problems can compression therapy treat, and how does it work?

Compression Therapy as Treatment for Medical Conditions

Compression garments apply consistent but gentle pressure to the target areas, stretching the vein walls to achieve numerous benefits. These include:

• enhanced blood flow

• reduced pooling of blood

• decrease in spider or varicose veins

• reduced swelling

• enhanced joint and tendon flexibility

• decreased inflammation

• improved tissue repair

Compression garments are elasticated to create sufficient constriction, usually at the ankle, affecting the rest of the limb. If you currently experience problems with circulation, compression therapy can reduce the risk of symptoms worsening down the line.

This treatment may be effective for a variety of conditions or issues. One of the most common is lymphedema, in which excess lymph fluid pools in tissues due to a blockage in the arms or legs. Lymphedema can be painful and impede movement of the affected limbs over time, having a significantly-disruptive impact on your life.

Compression therapy can help relieve discomfort, reduce swelling and stimulate movement of the collected fluids. You may be able to enjoy a more active lifestyle with regular use of compression garments.

Other issues compression therapy can aid include:

• varicose veins

• spider veins

• leg ulcers

• thrombosis

• post-surgery recovery

• sclerotherapy

• aching legs

Professional therapists offer safe, relaxing compression therapy designed to provide the benefits outlined above. The amount of constriction applied varies from one client to the next, based on your conditions or goals.

Causes of Venous Diseases

You may be at risk of venous diseases (varicose veins, leg swelling etc.) if you:

• have experienced an injury

• have undergone a surgical procedure

• are obese or heavily overweight

• fail to move your legs over long stretches of time

There are various things you can do to help your legs stay healthy and reduce your risk of venous problems. Make an effort to:

• avoid standing or sitting for too long to keep your blood flowing

• elevate your legs whenever you get a chance, to promote circulation

• try to maintain a healthy weight for your height and body type, as extra pounds put more pressure on your veins

• take more cool baths and / or showers to reduce the risk of swollen veins

How can I Receive Compression Therapy in Brampton?

Astra Medi Spa offers compression garment fitting as part of our Lymphedema Therapy treatment. This is an effective way to ease the symptoms of this condition and encourage proper lymphatic drainage.

Compression garment fitting is just one part of the lymphedema treatment available: massages and light exercise can be effective on the affected areas too. Our experts also provide you with insights into managing your lymphedema in your daily life, helping you deal with the condition as best you can.

Want to know more about how our compression garment fitting can help you? Have questions about our lymphedema therapy? Please don’t hesitate to contact Astra Medi Spa’s dedicated team.

7 Expert Tips to Keep Your Legs Healthy

Your legs go through a lot in an average day. Climbing stairs, pounding out miles on the treadmill, squatting, playing sports, walking along uneven pavements, taking knocks and bruises from those tiny accidents you barely even notice … it’s easy to overlook just how resilient your legs are.

But as you get older, your legs may start to show signs of poor health, which can affect your mobility and — as a result — your overall quality of life.

That’s why you have to do whatever you can to keep your legs healthy. And here are 7 expert tips to help you do just that.

Quit Smoking

There are plenty of reasons to stop smoking right now, and your leg health is just one of them.

Smoking makes your blood vessels thinner and harder, contributing to bad circulation. One condition affecting smokers is Buerger’s disease, which causes clots in your arm- and leg-veins, posing a danger of tissue damage or gangrene.

Eat a Healthier Diet

Make an effort to reduce the amount of salt and saturated fats you consume on a daily basis, as this can lower your risk of forming varicose veins.

Try to get more fruits, vegetables, nuts, cayenne pepper, dark chocolate and green tea into your diet as well. All of these help improve circulation.

Put your Feet Up

Sitting or standing for hours and hours every day can leave your legs feeling sore or heavy (possibly even swollen). As gravity leads blood down toward your feet, elevating them helps encourage better circulation.

Consider wearing compression socks if you’re going to be driving or sitting down for hours without being able to move around.

Get More Exercise

Exercise however and whenever you can, whether that’s a brisk walk around the block, a half hour on a treadmill or playing volleyball with friends.

You’ll get your blood flowing and be toning muscles in your legs, boosting your stamina and strength. Exercise can be helpful if you have varicose veins too, though avoid high-impact activities like running as this can put extra pressure on affected veins.

Manage your Weight

Overweight people are more likely to develop varicose veins, due to the additional pressure caused by the excess weight.

Being heavier than you should be puts extra strain on your knees and hips, disrupting your mobility in the long term. If you live a sedentary lifestyle and have put weight on, adopt a healthier diet and try to exercise more to avoid placing undue pressure on your legs.

Take a Cool Shower

A cool shower or bath will increase your heart rate and your circulation, clearing blocked arteries and helping your blood flow stay strong after you’ve dried off.

Consider Compression Therapy

Wearing compression socks or stockings may be recommended for long flights or drives, but they can actually benefit your legs health in everyday life too.

Compression therapy help ease varicose veins by encouraging better blood flow and reducing discomfort. Stockings and socks apply pressure at the ankles and feet, giving your circulation a strong push.

Astra Medi Spa’s Physiotherapy treatments include compression garment fitting, for varicose veins, lymphedema and other venous conditions.

Want to book an appointment or talk to a member of our friendly team? Just get in touchwith Astra Medi Spa today.

What are the Benefits of a Prenatal Massage?

Pregnancy takes a physical and mental toll on women at any age, especially first-timers. Aches and pains, weight gain, anxiety, sickness and swollen feet may all leave you feeling far from your best.

You have to take care of yourself. You have to relax and do whatever you can to make the pregnancy easier. And a prenatal massage is a fantastic way to do just that.

Why should you schedule a prenatal massage for yourself or a friend? Let’s take a look at the main benefits …

Alleviate Physical Discomfort

One of the major benefits of a prenatal massage is relief from common aches and pains.

An experienced therapist will know how to ease the following:

• lower- and upper-back pain

• leg cramping

• headaches

• varicose veins

• heartburn

• stiffness

• tension / knots

• constipation

• hip-joint pain

Backaches are especially hard to cope with and can be extremely disruptive. You might struggle to get comfortable or even enjoy the build-up to the birth as much as you want to if you’re constantly in pain.

A prenatal massage could make a big difference.

Relieve Anxiety or Depression

Sadly, it’s very common to experience anxiety or depression during pregnancy. Research shows a staggering 52 percent of women have noticed an increase in their anxietyor depression during pregnancy.

Even if you’ve never been affected by either, you may still feel anxious or depressed due to the extreme hormonal changes taking place in your body. Prenatal massages can help to relieve stress and soothe anxiety or depression, easing you into a calmer state of mind.

Boost Blood Circulation

Your blood circulation will improve during a prenatal massage — benefitting yourself and your baby.

How? You’ll both receive more oxygen and nutrients, while your swelling may reduce too. Stimulation of the lymph system boosts your immunity levels and flushes toxins out as well.

Care for your Posture

Pregnancy affects your posture and alignment, especially as your baby grows. This can lead to more discomfort and make standing up straight much, even for brief periods, far harder.

A prenatal massage increases your flexibility and muscle tone, helping you carry the baby’s weight a little easier. Combined with relief of those tiresome aches and pains, better posture makes pregnancy less trying on the body.

A Safe, Comfortable Treatment

Prenatal massages are safe in the majority of cases, though it might not be the best choice if you have diabetes, diarrhoea, extreme nausea, high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia.

But if you are able to have a prenatal massage, your therapist will make sure you’re comfortable throughout the entire treatment. We always use special cushioning and positioning for the safest, most relaxing experience for moms-to-be.

A prenatal massage is a terrific way to pamper yourself and socialize with a friend or loved one in a tranquil environment. Astra Medi Spa offers a diverse range of massage treatments using classic and the latest techniques: hot stone massage, deep tissue massage, Indian head massage and cupping massage all offer their own benefits for people of all ages.

Want to treat yourself? Schedule your prenatal massageat Astra Medi Spa now.

7 Easy Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthy, Clear and Gorgeous

A good skincare routine is essential for a healthy complexion, but we don’t always have the time to stay on top of it.

Don’t worry, though: knowing how to care for your skin and help it look its best doesn’t have to be as difficult or time-consuming as it might seem. Take a look at the 7 easy skincare tips below for expert insights and hassle-free changes everyone can make.

#1. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate

Always make time to exfoliate. It only takes a couple of minutes to do if you’re in a rush but it’s wonderful for your skin.

Exfoliation removes dirt or grime that might block your pores, takes dead skin cells away and creates a healthy glow. A quality face scrub is ideal for exfoliating, but make sure you choose the best product for your skin type. If you have particularly sensitive skin, avoid anything too harsh.

#2. Wash your Pillowcase More Often

Sleep on the same pillowcases for weeks? Be warned — you could be making your skin worse.

Why? Just think of all the oil, makeup, dirt and sweat that accumulates on your pillowcase. This is especially problematic if you forget / neglect to wash your face before you climb into bed.

Try to get into the habit of doing that, to let your skin breathe through the night. Switch your cases two times a week if you think your skin needs more TLC too.

#3. Choose Your Moisturizer Carefully

Make sure you only use an oil-free moisturizer: this reduces the risk of your pores becoming clogged in a big way.

This is crucial if you’re prone to breakouts or tend to have oily skin anyway. Switch to an oil-free product formulated to your skin type.

#4. Don’t Just Wear Sunscreen in Summer

Make sure you wear sunscreen all the year round, not just in summer — and if you’re not even wearing it then, you should be!

Age spots are one of the most common side-effects of excessive UV exposure, while more dangerous risks include melanoma. If you can find cosmetics offering UV protection (such as a moisturizer), give them a try too.

#5. Drink Lots (of Water)

If you’re not drinking water throughout the day, you’re not doing your complexion any favors.

This is a must to keep your skin clear and healthy. Letting your skin become dehydrated means it’s more likely to produce excess oil to compensate for the lack of water, leading to blocked pores and greasier skin. Aim to drink around eight large glasses a day.

#6. Remember: You are What You Eat

A diet rich in junk food, alcohol and greasy snacks will take its toll on your skin. Focus on getting more fruit and vegetables, cut down on booze and consider taking vitamins to take better care of your skin.

#7. Get Professional Skincare Help

Last but not least, try professional facial treatments: skincare specialists can help give your skin a beautiful, healthy glow that lasts.

You have plenty of options, from those designed to increase your skin’s moisture and improve its texture to others focusing on tackling breakouts.

Astra Medi Spa is your local spa in Brampton, offering an amazing range of facial treatments to suit all skin types and conditions. Some include extractions to unclog pores and leave you glowing like never before.

Want to treat yourself to a luxurious facial in Brampton? Schedule your consultationwith Astra Medi Spa now.