NYC Acupuncture for Hypertension
Hypertension is known as the silent killer. This is because there are often no symptoms. It is a serious medical condition which can cause stroke and lead to other medical complications such as heart disease, kidney disease and lung disease.
The best way to determine if you have hypertension is to regularly check your blood pressure. There are two primary measurements of blood pressure. They are the systolic and diastolic pressures. They pressure is recorded as a ratio, such as 110/70. Systolic is the higher number reflects the pressure with the heart in contraction and diastolic is the lower number and reflects the pressure with the heart at rest. The normal range for blood pressure is below 120/80 and above 90/60. When these numbers are consistently above that range, the patient is determined to have hypertension.
Treatments focus on the use of medications that reduce blood pressure through a variety of mechanisms. In all cases, it is advisable that patients make lifestyle changes around diet and exercise. One of the most effective ways to reduce blood pressure is to lose weight.
In Chinese Medicine there are a number of potential causes of high blood pressure. Generally speaking, there is too much heat in the body, and as we know heat rises, hence pressure is increased. Additionally, patients may have insufficient rooting of their energy. In Chinese medicine yin roots the yang. If there isn’t enough yin, yang will rise. Again, resulting in increased blood pressure. Recent research supports the use of acupuncture in treating high blood pressure. Li, Min et al. Repetitive Electroacupuncture Attenuates Cold-Induced Hypertension through Enkephalin in the Rostral Ventral Lateral Medulla. Scientific Reports 2016; 6(35791):2 In another study, acupuncture was found to be as effective some types of medication (calcium channel blocker). Liu XS. Observation on the Immediate Buck Effect of the Siguan and Xuehai Points Needling [J]. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2014(4):61—63.
As is the case with all interventions, it is necessary to adopt and maintain healthy eating and lifestyle habits. We work with our patients to help introduce effective lifestyle changes which they can maintain over the long term.
West Village Acupuncture is an NYC based practice. If you have any questions about acupuncture in the treatment of hypertension, please feel free to contact Dr. Elizabeth Healy, L.Ac. at 917 968 2854.