Hypertension

Hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) is a long term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. Short term high blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long term high blood pressure; however, is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension may be caused from a combination of multiple problems including:

  1. Stress
  2. Kidney disorders
  3. Hormone imbalances
  4. Heart disease
  5. Drugs
  6. Pain
  7. Many other Causes

At Fontana Chiropractic and Acupuncture, we focus on many of the causes of hypertension, such as pain, stress, and nutrition to name a few.  Let us help diagnosis and treat your high blood pressure with our many treatment options.

 

Acupuncture has been clinically shown to decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients using drug therapy in this study.

Title: The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs.

Design: 34 patient study. Acupuncture was preformed on patients  on antihypertensive drug therapy for at least 24 months.  These drugs included ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and beta blockers.

Results: After being treated with acupuncture for one month in every two days for a total of 15 sessions, we found significant reductions (p ? 001) in both systolic (from 163.14 +/- 19.33 to 129.49 +/- 18.52) and diastolic (from 94.37 +/- 19.70 to 79.31 +/- 7.87) blood pressures of these patients. Acupuncture facilitated a significant reduction in blood pressure and reduced the patients complaints. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggest that acupuncture should be in the hypertension treatment.

Compared with the other two groups, Acupuncture plus placebo had improved sleep quality and vitality, decreased daytime dysfunction and sleepiness. Acupuncture appeared to be more effective in increasing sleep quality and daytime functioning than sham acupuncture and estazolam.

Citation: Cevik C, Işeri S. The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs. Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research [serial online]. 2013;38(1-2):1-15. Available from: MEDLINE with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 23, 2014.