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Function of myocardial contraction and relaxation in essential hypertension in dynamics of acupuncture therapy
S A Radzievsky1, O D Lebedeva, L A Fisenko
1Department of Functional Diagnostic and Clinical Physiology, All-Union Scientific Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Moscow, USSR.
Insights
Acupuncture treatment effectively lowers blood pressure in early essential hypertension. This reflexotherapy improves heart function, reduces myocardial hypertrophy, and decreases sympathetic nervous system activity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Integrative Medicine
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Essential hypertension (EH) often presents with early-stage myocardial changes.
- These changes include increased myocardial mass and impaired contractile and diastolic functions.
- Understanding these early cardiac alterations is crucial for effective hypertension management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acupuncture (reflexotherapy) on cardiac function in patients with initial-stage essential hypertension.
- To evaluate the impact of acupuncture on myocardial mass, contractility, and diastolic function.
- To explore the role of sympathetic nervous system modulation in acupuncture's hypotensive effects.
Main Methods:
- Phase systole analysis and echocardiography were employed.
- Forty-nine patients with initial-stage EH participated in the study.
- Acupuncture treatment was administered to assess its physiological impact.
Main Results:
- Acupuncture induced a stable hypotensive effect in patients.
- Significant improvements in myocardial contractile and diastolic functions were observed.
- Reversal of myocardial hypertrophy and decreased energy loss were noted.
- A reduction in sympathetic influences on the circulatory system was identified.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture is an effective treatment for early-stage essential hypertension.
- Reflexotherapy can normalize cardiac function and reverse myocardial hypertrophy.
- Decreased sympathetic activity is a key mechanism behind acupuncture's cardiovascular benefits.
Abstract:
Forty-nine patients with initial stages of essential hypertension (EH) were investigated using phase systole analysis and echocardiography during acupuncture (reflexotherapy) treatment. It was established that even at the initial stages of EH increasing of myocardial mass and the disturbances of contractile and diastolic activity of myocardium take place. As a result of acupuncture a stable hypotensive effect, improvement or normalization of contractile function and diastolic values, a decrease of energy loss, reversal of myocardial hypertrophy were achieved. It is the decrease of sympathetic influences on the circulation system that plays an important part in the onset of these positive changes.