Acupuncture
Might Help Ease High Blood Pressure
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2015 (HealthDay
News) -- Can acupuncture benefit people with mildly or
moderately elevated blood pressure?
Perhaps, a small study suggests, but
the researchers behind the trial acknowledge that it's too soon to say for
sure.
The researchers found that blood
pressure levels declined slightly in a small group of patients treated 30 minutes
a week with "electroacupuncture" -- where the needles carry low-level
electrical stimulation -- at specific points of the body.
"Potentially, blood pressure
can be kept low with a monthly follow-up treatment," said study co-author
Dr. John Longhurst, a cardiologist at the University of California, Irvine.
An estimated 70 million U.S. adults
-- one in three -- have high blood pressure, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's believed that only half have
their condition under control. High blood pressure can lead to stroke
and heart disease.
Blood pressure can often be lowered
by becoming more fit, taking medications or both. But these approaches don't
work for everyone, and medication can cause side effects, especially among the
elderly.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy, is
increasingly viewed as a possible alternative, the researchers said in
background notes with the study. Practitioners insert thin needles into key
points on the body in an attempt to rebalance the flow of energy.
Because previous studies on
acupuncture's effect on high blood pressure have had mixed results, the
researchers set out to explore the subject more thoroughly. They compared
electroacupuncture at two sets of points in their study of 65 high blood pressure patients.
High blood pressure was defined as
140-180 mm Hg over 90-99 mm Hg. None of the participants was taking blood
pressure medication.
Normal blood pressure is defined as
119/79 or lower, according to the U.S. Institutes of Health.
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