Mar 02 2018

Acupuncture and the Heart

Do you have high blood pressure (aka “hypertension”)? You might not know it if you do because high blood pressure symptoms can take a long time to develop. That’s why it’s important to have annual check-ups with your primary care doctor.

The Mayo Clinic explains that many factors can contribute to high blood pressure, including:

  • Sleep apnea
  • Kidney problems
  • Thyroid problems
  • Being overweight
  • Diabetes
  • Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers, as well as some prescription drugs
  • Alcohol abuse or chronic alcohol use

Studies have shown that acupuncture can help treat hypertension in conjunction with medications prescribed to treat high blood pressure. One of these studies was conducted over a 10 year period. Researchers at the University of California Irvine’s medical school found that acupuncture could help people manage their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke in the long term. In fact, “70% of treated patients experienced noticeable drop in blood pressure.”

One reason acupuncture can help treat hypertension is that acupuncture can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, which are all contributing factors to high blood pressure. Acupuncture can also treat addiction, like chronic alcohol abuse.

Traditional acupuncture targets specific areas of the body to help balance the body’s distribution of blood. These points can be activated during acupuncture treatment itself, and they can be stimulated by hand between treatments. While acupuncture can help address the symptoms of hypertension, there are other factors that must be addressed to help maintain healthy blood pressure. These include diet and exercise, as well as managing stress factors, and reducing sodium and alcohol consumption.

There is no overnight “cure” for high blood pressure, but acupuncture can help you get started on a path to positive change. Make an appointment with The Gathering Point today to get started.


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Contact Us

1927 E. Grant Road
Tucson, AZ 85719
520-777-7444
info@gpcacupuncture.com

Hours

Tuesday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

We are closed Sunday & Monday.