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Stress Management And Acupuncture For Hypertension

March 29th, 2010

Adding the relaxation response, a stress-management approach, to other lifestyle interventions may significantly improve treatment of hypertension.

Among participants in a study conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital Hypertension Program and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, those who received relaxation response training were more than twice as likely to successfully eliminate at least one blood pressure medication than were those receiving only lifestyle counseling.

“If a practice that takes only 15 to 20 minutes a day can help decrease patients’ dependence on antihypertensive medications, we could not only improve their quality of life but lower health costs by billions of dollars,” says Randall Zusman, M.D., co-senior author.

The present study enrolled more than 100 patients whose blood pressure remained elevated despite their taking two or more antihypertensive drugs. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups, a relaxation response group or a lifestyle counseling group.

Among relaxation response group participants, 32 percent maintained reduced blood pressure after eliminating one or more medications, an accomplishment achieved by only 14 percent of those in the lifestyle counseling group.

Healthy lifestyle factors for the prevention or treatment of hypertension include:

·      Tai chi, qigong and meditation practice.

·      Aerobic exercise.

·      Eating more fresh fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods.

·      Stress and weight control management.

Hypertension is associated with a combination of factors including: Smoking, high cholesterol, high sodium diet, and obesity. Acupuncture can aid in regulating hypertension.

Anti-hypertensive effects of acupuncture are best for treatment of mild or first stage hypertension. Acupuncture works through regulation of the nervous and endocrine systems by activating central endorphin pathways that elicit decreases in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure.

For information about acupuncture for the treatment of hypertension call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.

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