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Stress is a problem that, if not addressed, can take a big chunk from your pocketbook, if not years off your life. The world isn't going to get any easier to live in, so what can you do to alleviate its ill-effects?

One increasingly popular tool is frequent massage therapy. An ancient practice that has gained wide acceptance in North America over the past few decades, this direct "hands on" approach to stress reduction has, in a wide range of studies, proven to have strong and measurable affects on stress.

Some quantifiable health benefits of massage therapy techniques include:

• It can reduce or eliminate lower back pain while improving overall range-of-motion.
• It stimulates the lymphatic system, which may strengthen immunity.
• It can reduce the stiffness and pain associated with arthritis.
• It increases joint flexibility, and often reduces muscle spasms and cramping.
• When applied to asthmatic children, massage has been shown to increase pulmonary function and increase peak air flow.
• It has been shown to reduce diastolic blood pressure and lower stress hormones such as cortisol.
• It releases endorphins – the brain's natural painkillers – which can, in turn, enhance one's mood, relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• In some studies, massage has been shown to relieve the pain of migraine headaches.
• Massage applied to preterm infants has been shown to improve weight gain.

Many hospitals are now using massage to help relieve stress and discomfort in their patients, particularly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Bodywork and massage has also become a key component of hospice care.

Naturally, the more frequently you are able to take advantage of massage, the greater your benefits are likely to be. It is also important to find a Massage Therapy who you like and trust, and who can devise a routine that addresses your specific needs.

With stress being the nation's number-one health problem, it's time for people to reexamine the ancient and clinically proven art of massage.

And if you're looking for a fulfilling, "hands-on" career where you can help people one-on-one, you should seriously find a Massage Therapy Program and consider a field in massage.

Allen B. Ury, writes for Corinthian Colleges, Inc., on the benefits of quality Massage Therapy training. Find out how attending a massage therapy school through Everest College can help jump-start careers.