Dynamic State of Circulation on Essential Hypertension and Effect of Electro-acupuncture-therapy / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

We assessed the Master's single two-step test, postural blood pressure reflex, and autonomic nervous system manifestation in 112 essential hypertension patients and evaluated the results of low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy in 32 patients who exhibited the pressor type of diastolic blood pressure response to exercise.<br>The following conclusions were drawn from the results.<br>1. The diastolic blood pressure response to exercise was the pressor type in 60 patients (54%) and the depressor type in 52 patients (46%). By catagory, it was the pressor type in 40 (56%) of the 72 patients in the group taking antihypertensive drugs, and the depressor type in 32 (44%). In the group of 38 patients taking diuretics, it was the pressor type in 20 patients (53%). In the group of 40 patients not taking autihypertensive drugs, 20 patients each displayed the pressor-type response and the depressor-type response.<br>2. The group with a pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise had higher systolic pressure when seated at rest than the depressor group, and the extent of the rise in systolic pressure in response to the exercise load was greater. The extent of the decrease in systolic blood pressure immediately after standing up in the postural blood pressure response test was less than in the depressor group.<br>3. The incidences of edema of the lower extremities, coldness of the lower extremities, and other autonomic nervous system symptoms were higher in the group with the pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise than in the depressor group.<br>4. The results of low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy on the 32 patients in the group with the pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise showed a depressor diastolic pressure response to exercise in 23 of the patients (72%). The period of treatment until the transition to the decreased pressure period was 5.5 months. While no improvement in the extent of the rise in systolic pressure in response to exercise was observed in the depressor stage, an increase in the extent of the decrease in systolic blood pressure immediately after standing up was observed in the postural blood pressure response test.<br>From on the above results, it was found that some patients with pre-hypertension and mild hypertension showed the diastolic pressure response to the Master's single two step test that differed (in pressor type) from that of healthy subjects. In particular, it was shown that the blood pressure of some patients taking antihypertensive agents whose blood pressure was always within the normal range exhibited blood pressure responses to exercise that differed from those of healthy subjects. It was also found that 1-Hz, 10-minute low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy applied to the posterior surface of the leg (tibialis posterior muscle) is effective in normalizing the diastolic blood pressure response (shifting to the depressor type) to the Master's single two-step test in patients who displayed a pressor-type diastolic blood pressure response to exercise.