Acupuncture therapy improves vascular hemodynamics and stiffness in middle-age hypertensive individuals.


Author: Terenteva N1, Chernykh O2, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA3, Wong A4

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Industrial Ecology and Life Safety, Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia.

<sup>2</sup>Department of Economics and Management, Moscow Financial and Law University, Moscow, Russia.

<sup>3</sup>Division of Clinical & Translational Research, Larkin Community Hospital South Miami, Florida, USA.

<sup>4</sup>Department of Health and Human Performance, Marymount University, Arlington, VA, USA. Electronic address: awong@marymount.edu.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract.
Date published: 2018 Feb
Other:
 Volume ID: 30   ,  Pages: 14-18   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.002. Epub  2017 Nov 8.   ,  Word Count: 162  
    Acupuncture (ACU) is becoming a more common practice among hypertensive individuals. However, the reported therapeutic effects of ACU in lowering brachial blood pressure (BP) are ambiguous. Therefore, evaluating more sensitive markers of arterial functioning might unveil the protective effects of ACU on hypertension. We examined the effects of an 8-week ACU therapy intervention on vascular hemodynamics and stiffness in middle-age hypertensive individuals. Participants were randomly assigned to either ACU (n = 23) or a control group (n = 22). Brachial and aortic BP, wave reflection (AIx) and arterial stiffness (SI) were measured before and after 8 weeks. There was a significant group x time interaction (P < 0.05) for brachial and aortic BP, AIx and SI which significantly decreased (P < 0.05) following ACU but not after control. ACU led to reductions in brachial and aortic BP, wave reflection and arterial stiffness in middle-age hypertensive individuals. ACU might be effective in the prevention and treatment of hypertension.



KEYWORDS: Acupuncture; Arterial stiffness; Vascular hemodynamic; Wave reflection



PMID: 29389472  DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.002