Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure

Acupuncture, a healing technique rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), may help temporarily lower blood pressure by reducing stress and influencing your body's hormones. However, more research is needed to understand how it may fit into a high blood pressure management plan.

This ancient practice involves placing very fine, flexible needles into specific spots on your body, called acupoints, to stimulate healing. Modern acupuncture can also include electroacupuncture, which channels an electric current between acupuncture needles.

Existing evidence exploring the benefits of acupuncture for hypertension remains fairly mixed. Some research shows promise, but other studies have found it difficult to eliminate bias and come up with consistent results. 

 

Does It Actually Work? 

 

Several smaller studies suggest that acupuncture may help improve high blood pressure: 

 

A small 2015 study found that 33 participants treated with acupuncture had lower blood pressure after 8 weeks of treatment. Research from 2018 found that acupuncture treatments may help lower blood pressure for anywhere from 1 to 24 hours. A 2019 research review discovered that acupuncture combined with Western medicine approaches—which include medications and lifestyle changes—could help improve hypertension more effectively than Western medicine alone.

Even so, experts call into question the size, quality, and rigor of many of these studies. 

 

Acupuncture may help lower blood pressure for some people, but many studies don't conduct follow-ups to determine how long any reductions in blood pressure may last. You may need sessions weekly, if not more frequently, to make acupuncture a viable long-term approach to lowering your blood pressure. 

 

Larger, high-quality studies are needed to understand acupuncture's short- and long-term effects on hypertension.

How Does Acupuncture Help Regulate Blood Pressure? 

 

According to TCM practitioners, acupuncture helps balance your body's qi, or vital energy. Acupoints are the specific points where qi can flow from your organs to the surface of your body. Meridians, or pathways, connect these external points to your internal organs.

When an acupuncturist stimulates combinations of specific acupoints in the right way, it's thought to balance your qi and help regulate different bodily functions, including your blood pressure.

Scientific evidence has yet to identify exactly how acupuncture works, but stimulating certain points on your body may act on your body's central nervous system, influencing blood flow as well as the way your body produces key hormones. 

 

When it comes to hypertension, acupuncture may help regulate your blood pressure by acting on the hormones involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This system helps moderate your blood pressure and balances your fluids and electrolytes. 

 

In particular, acupuncture may change how the hormones and enzymes in your RAAS show up in your blood and stimulate receptors in your body that regulate blood pressure. 

 

Acupuncture could also act on your limbic system to increase your levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which plays a key role in your brain's reward system. Research from 2021 suggests that dopamine may lower oxidative stress—an excess of free radicals that can damage your cells—and help keep your blood pressure balanced. 

 

Acupuncture may also have a relaxing effect on the walls of your arteries and veins, which may help lower your blood pressure. 

 

Your acupuncturist will most likely tailor your treatment around your specific needs after conducting a health study, so they may focus on one or more acupoints during your session. 

 

Does It Treat All Types of High Blood Pressure?

There are two main types of hypertension: primary (essential) and secondary. Some studies suggest that acupuncture could have potential benefits for both types. 

 

Primary hypertension doesn't have a single identifiable cause. It typically relates to risk factors such as genetics, age, and lifestyle. 

 

Secondary hypertension occurs due to certain health conditions, such as preeclampsia or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or medications. This type is less common. 

 

Most research focuses on acupuncture for essential hypertension. According to a 2023 research review, acupuncture may help manage essential hypertension, but the researchers also emphasize that the overall quality of the existing evidence is low.

 

Many conditions can contribute to secondary hypertension, and studies that focus on these conditions have arrived at mixed results. 

 

For example, a 2019 study of 44 people with OSA—a condition that can cause secondary hypertension—found that acupuncture seemed to have no effect on the participants' blood pressure.

However, a small 2018 study that included 22 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, a condition that involves high blood pressure, found some potential benefits. Half the participants received up to 10 acupuncture sessions over 2 weeks, while the other half received treatment as usual. Adding acupuncture to the usual treatments for pre-eclampsia lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure more than the usual treatments alone. 

 

Ultimately, more research is needed to fully understand acupuncture's role in managing blood pressure. 

 

Safety and Side Effects

When performed by a board-certified acupuncturist, acupuncture is generally safe for most people, with little risk of side effects. 

 

Side effects aren't common, but you may notice: 

 

Bruising or bleeding 

 

Pain where the needle is inserted

 

Nausea 

 

Dizziness 

 

Fatigue 

 

Issues can arise if your practitioner doesn't use sterile, single-use needles. But for trained and licensed acupuncturists, this is standard practice.

Improperly performed acupuncture may lead to infection or, in rare cases, severe side effects such as central nervous system injuries or punctured organs. 

 

Talk with a healthcare professional before trying acupuncture to make sure it's safe for you. People with bleeding disorders, metal allergies, or other health conditions may need to find an alternative treatment. People with certain implantable devices, like defibrillators, should also avoid acupuncture that uses electric currents. 

 

How to Find an Acupuncturist 

 

It's always best to opt for a board-certified acupuncturist. In the United States, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine certifies acupuncturists. You can find a licensed acupuncturist in your area using their directory. 

 

Other helpful tips for finding the right acupuncturist:

 

Ask friends or co-workers for recommendations of reputable acupuncturists in your community 

 

Use a search engine to find an acupuncturist with excellent reviews 

 

Check with your insurance plan to find out if it covers acupuncture 

 

Ask a doctor or other healthcare professional for a referral 

 

Once you find a potential acupuncturist, make sure they hold a current license to practice acupuncture, and feel free to ask any questions you have about the process. If they don't answer your questions to your satisfaction, or you don't feel comfortable with them, you may want to find someone who's a better fit. 

 

The Bottom Line 

 

While its effectiveness for lowering blood pressure in the long-term remains up for debate, smaller studies suggest acupuncture could temporarily help improve high blood pressure. 

 

You can safely use acupuncture alongside most blood pressure medications, and this combination could do more to lower your blood pressure than medication alone.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

Is Urinating At Night a Symptom Of Something More Serious?

When you body goes into rest mode every night, your bladder switches gears and produces less, but more concentrated urine to let you sleep without interruption. This balance can be cut short by a variety of factors, including disease. And while the majority of people need a nighttime detour to the bathroom because of the glass of wine they had in the evening and have nothing to worry about, frequent and multiple nighttime urination is a red flag. 

 

Even so, nocturia (the scientific term for frequent nighttime urination) may be caused by a disease, there are some benign causes, among which are the following:

Diuretic medications 

 

Caffeine 

 

Alcohol 

 

Excessive fluids before bedtime. 

 

As a symptom, nocturia can point to a variety of diseases, from urinary infections to neurological diseases and everything in-between. Scroll down to read about each cause.

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

 

 

Nighttime urination is so prevalent in sleep apnea that it became a tell-tale sign of the disease, as significant as snoring, but many people don’t suspect that sleep apnea may be the cause of frequent nighttime urination. The American Sleep Apnea Association mentions that over 84% of patients suffering from sleep apnea reported nocturia.

Many patients with untreated sleep apnea report 6 or more nighttime bathroom trips. The underlying mechanism of nocturia in sleep apnea is unclear, but it is known that patients who start a treatment targeting sleep apnea find that it resolves the nightly bathroom breaks almost completely.

2. Bladder Prolapse

A bladder prolapse can happen when a woman’s bladder is poorly supported by pelvic muscles and ligaments, as a result, it descends to the vaginal wall. Patients with even a minor prolapse complain about nocturia, and bladder prolapse is one of the leading causes of nocturia in women.

In this condition, nighttime urination likely occurs because the tension of the vagina can aggravate the bladder when in a horizontal position, and one gets the urge to urinate, even when the bladder isn’t full.

3. Enlarged Prostate

 

 

 

An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in medical terms. In patients suffering from BPH, the urinary tract changes its shape and functionality together with the enlargement of the prostate.

BPH is one of the major causes of nocturia in males, which is brought about by increased bladder sensation and the narrowing of the urethra, which can make you feel an urgency to urinate, even when your bladder is nearly empty. In these cases, nocturia is not the only symptom and an increased need to urinate and incontinence are also observed.

4. Anxiety and Depression

Mental problems, such as anxiety and depression may manifest themselves in the form of nocturia, too. Although the exact link between these 2 conditions is unknown, nocturia is believed to be a side effect of sleep disturbances that come with anxiety and depression.

In these cases, it’s not the need to empty the bladder that wakes a person up, but they take a trip to the bathroom when they’re already up. To stop both the nocturia and the sleep disturbances, it is recommended to try to relax before sleep, either by doing breathing exercises, aromatherapy, or meditation

It is also a good idea to avoid evening naps, nighttime meals and caffeinated drinks in the evenings.

 

 

5. UTIs

One of the most common causes of nocturia are a urinary tract infections (UTIs), cystitis, as well as bladder or kidney infections. These infections of the urinary system usually cause frequent burning sensations before, during and after urination, as well as the urgency to urinate during the day and night. 

 

Other symptoms of these infections include changes in urine, fever, pain in the lover back and lower pelvis.

6. Swelling of the legs ( edema)

 

 

There are many causes of edema, ranging from liver failure to heart disease, but all of these conditions cause excess water buildup in the tissues of the extremities.

This extra fluid has to go somewhere, so the body transports this fluid to the kidneys to excrete it from the body, which usually happens at night. This way, patients suffering from leg swelling may have to take a few night trips to the bathroom.

 

7. Multiple Sclerosis

People who suffer from multiple sclerosis, too, can experience nocturia, with an estimated 80 percent having some sort of bladder dysfunction during the progression of the disease, with some patients having to wake up 5-8 time during the night, feeling the urge to urinate.

This symptom occurs because MS patients have suffered damage to the nervous system, which may result in the disruption of nerve signals connected to the functioning of the bladder.

8. Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the 2nd most common neurodegenerative disease. In the course of the disease, patient most commonly experience motor control difficulties, but as much as 60% of PD patients also have bladder symptoms.

Although the causes of nocturia in PD are poorly understood, it was suggested that it may be due to higher quantities of urine production or a lower capacity of the bladder.

9. Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder is a diagnosis encompassing a variety of conditions that all have the same symptom: a sudden unstoppable urge to urinate. Nocturia is one of the symptoms of an overactive bladder, and it is more common in people over the age of 60, but it has also been reported that one in three adults over the age of 30 needs 2 or more nighttime bathroom trips as well. 

 

Other symptoms of an overactive bladder include a sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate, frequent incontinence, and more than 8 bathroom breaks in a 24-hour period. The reasons of this conditions are unknown, and therapy includes a variety of exercise, dietary restrictions, botox injections and even electro-stimulation.

10. Tumours in Pelvic Area

Both malignant and benign tumors of the organs of the lower abdomen, such as kidneys, reproductive organs and the digestive system may cause nighttime urination, as the tumor may press against the bladder, making it smaller and capable of holding less urine. 

 

This will usually cause not only nocturia, but also incontinence and frequent urination during the day time.

11. Diabetes

Having high blood glucose levels can make the body get rid of excess glucose through urine. The more sugar the urine contains, the more it stimulates urine production. 

 

This will make you urinate more often throughout the day and night, and it will also bring about the sensation of thirst. There is also a form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus that causes excess urination, with some patients urinating 20 liters (5.28 gallons) more than a normal person every day.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

Is Urinating At Night a Symptom Of Something More Serious?

When you body goes into rest mode every night, your bladder switches gears and produces less, but more concentrated urine to let you sleep without interruption. This balance can be cut short by a variety of factors, including disease. And while the majority of people need a nighttime detour to the bathroom because of the glass of wine they had in the evening and have nothing to worry about, frequent and multiple nighttime urination is a red flag.

 

Even so, nocturia (the scientific term for frequent nighttime urination) may be caused by a disease, there are some benign causes, among which are the following: 

 

Diuretic medications 

 

Caffeine 

 

Alcohol 

 

Excessive fluids before bedtime. 

 

As a symptom, nocturia can point to a variety of diseases, from urinary infections to neurological diseases and everything in-between. Scroll down to read about each cause.

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

 

Nighttime urination is so prevalent in sleep apnea that it became a tell-tale sign of the disease, as significant as snoring, but many people don’t suspect that sleep apnea may be the cause of frequent nighttime urination. The American Sleep Apnea Association mentions that over 84% of patients suffering from sleep apnea reported nocturia. 

 

Many patients with untreated sleep apnea report 6 or more nighttime bathroom trips. The underlying mechanism of nocturia in sleep apnea is unclear, but it is known that patients who start a treatment targeting sleep apnea find that it resolves the nightly bathroom breaks almost completely. 

 

2. Bladder Prolapse 

A bladder prolapse can happen when a woman’s bladder is poorly supported by pelvic muscles and ligaments, as a result, it descends to the vaginal wall. Patients with even a minor prolapse complain about nocturia, and bladder prolapse is one of the leading causes of nocturia in women. 

 

In this condition, nighttime urination likely occurs because the tension of the vagina can aggravate the bladder when in a horizontal position, and one gets the urge to urinate, even when the bladder isn’t full. 

 

 

3. Enlarged Prostate

An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in medical terms. In patients suffering from BPH, the urinary tract changes its shape and functionality together with the enlargement of the prostate.

BPH is one of the major causes of nocturia in males, which is brought about by increased bladder sensation and the narrowing of the urethra, which can make you feel an urgency to urinate, even when your bladder is nearly empty. In these cases, nocturia is not the only symptom and an increased need to urinate and incontinence are also observed. 

 

 

4. Anxiety and Depression

Mental problems, such as anxiety and depression may manifest themselves in the form of nocturia, too. Although the exact link between these 2 conditions is unknown, nocturia is believed to be a side effect of sleep disturbances that come with anxiety and depression. 

 

In these cases, it’s not the need to empty the bladder that wakes a person up, but they take a trip to the bathroom when they’re already up. To stop both the nocturia and the sleep disturbances, it is recommended to try to relax before sleep, either by doing breathing exercises, aromatherapy, or meditation. 

 

It is also a good idea to avoid evening naps, nighttime meals and caffeinated drinks in the evenings. 

 

5. UTIs 

One of the most common causes of nocturia are a urinary tract infections (UTIs), cystitis, as well as bladder or kidney infections. These infections of the urinary system usually cause frequent burning sensations before, during and after urination, as well as the urgency to urinate during the day and night. 

 

Other symptoms of these infections include changes in urine, fever, pain in the lover back and lower pelvis. 

 

 

6. Swelling of the Legs (Edema) 

 

 

There are many causes of edema, ranging from liver failure to heart disease, but all of these conditions cause excess water buildup in the tissues of the extremities.

This extra fluid has to go somewhere, so the body transports this fluid to the kidneys to excrete it from the body, which usually happens at night. This way, patients suffering from leg swelling may have to take a few night trips to the bathroom. 

 

 

7. Multiple Sclerosis

 

People who suffer from multiple sclerosis, too, can experience nocturia, with an estimated 80 percent having some sort of bladder dysfunction during the progression of the disease, with some patients having to wake up 5-8 time during the night, feeling the urge to urinate. 

 

This symptom occurs because MS patients have suffered damage to the nervous system, which may result in the disruption of nerve signals connected to the functioning of the bladder. 

 

8. Parkinson’s Disease 

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the 2nd most common neurodegenerative disease. In the course of the disease, patient most commonly experience motor control difficulties, but as much as 60% of PD patients also have bladder symptoms. 

 

Although the causes of nocturia in PD are poorly understood, it was suggested that it may be due to higher quantities of urine production or a lower capacity of the bladder. 

 

9. Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder is a diagnosis encompassing a variety of conditions that all have the same symptom: a sudden unstoppable urge to urinate. Nocturia is one of the symptoms of an overactive bladder, and it is more common in people over the age of 60, but it has also been reported that one in three adults over the age of 30 needs 2 or more nighttime bathroom trips as well. 

 

Other symptoms of an overactive bladder include a sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate, frequent incontinence, and more than 8 bathroom breaks in a 24-hour period. The reasons of this conditions are unknown, and therapy includes a variety of exercise, dietary restrictions, botox injections and even electro stimulation.

10. Tumors In the Pelvic Area  

Both malignant and benign tumors of the organs of the lower abdomen, such as kidneys, reproductive organs and the digestive system may cause nighttime urination, as the tumor may press against the bladder, making it smaller and capable of holding less urine. 

 

This will usually cause not only nocturia, but also incontinence and frequent urination during the day time. 

 

11. Diabetes

Having high blood glucose levels can make the body get rid of excess glucose through urine. The more sugar the urine contains, the more it stimulates urine production. 

 

This will make you urinate more often throughout the day and night, and it will also bring about the sensation of thirst. There is also a form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus that causes excess urination, with some patients urinating 20 litres (5.28 gallons) more than a normal person every day.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.