Acupuncture for Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure also known as hypotension is not as prevalent as high blood pressure although the damage it can do to the body can be as serious as that caused by high blood pressure. Suffering from blood loss or being dehydrated can result in drop in blood pressure as can prone or sitting position to standing or sudden movement. There are also certain health issues that can lead to persistent episodes of hypotension. You need to go for medical treatment for hypotension but you can also complement this treatment with an effective non-invasive alternative treatment like electronic acupuncture.

What is Hypotension?

Hypotension occurs when a person’s blood’s pressure heart rate is lower than normal. Typically when you have low blood pressure, your heart is not pumping with enough force to circulate blood all over the body to supply oxygen to all the body organs. This results in the telling signs of nausea, dizziness and in severe cases, shock. Blood pressure reading ranging from 90/60 to 120/80 is considered normal but when your pressure drops less than 90/60, you then are considered to have low blood pressure.

Medicines such as surgical anesthesia, anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol, narcotic painkillers and anti-depressants can cause low blood pressure. Medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and coronary disease contribute also to this disorder. If you continuously experience hypotension that compels you to avail of medical treatment, then electronic acupuncture is one great treatment that can help.

Blood Pressure and Electronic Acupuncture

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the human body is divided into several microscopic vessels that spread throughout the body known as meridians where life energy the Chinese call Qi or Chi travels through. Sometimes some of these meridians develop blockages which lead to health issues like low blood pressure, illness and pain. Acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment that has been used for thousands of years to aid the body in removing meridian blockages to allow Chi to flow unimpeded once more.

Traditional acupuncture often entails multiple sessions for treatment of a condition and this can be quite expensive. Also, a lot of people are scared at the thought of needles being inserted in their body. These factors can be a deterrent for them to consider this wonderful alternative therapy for their low blood pressure. The great news is that they have another way to gain the benefits of this wonderful natural safe treatment and this way is through electronic acupuncture.

An electronic acupuncture device generates the same healing benefits that acupuncture needles give. Electromagnetic energy pulses are elicited into the body using the small wand of the device. These pulses of energy are transmitted into strategic acupuncture points located on the palm and hand that are related to certain body functions. This type of treatment is a very convenient, painless and easy way to receive the benefits of acupuncture in the comfort of your own home and in your own time. You need just a few sessions of electronic acupuncture to regain the normal flow of Chi and thus treat your low blood pressure. The important thing to note though is to remember to talk to your doctor first prior to embarking on electronic acupuncture treatment for your low blood pressure.

Manhattan Acupuncture Clinic
900 Broadway, Suite 404
New York, NY 10003
Ph: (917) 968-6456
http://www.manhattanacupunctureclinic.com/

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure

If you do have a naturally low blood pressure, you may not experience any signs or symptoms of problematic hypotension and may not need any type of treatment.

Still a person having low blood pressure can also mean that not enough blood is circulating in your vital organs especially your brain. This can lead to symptoms like:

• Overall weakness
• Nausea or a feeling that you are going to be sick
• Confusion
• Palpitations (irregular or rapid heartbeat)
• Blurred vision
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Dizziness

You may be suffering from orthostatic or postural hypotension if you feel symptoms when you change positions like standing up after sitting.

Usually the symptoms may only endure for a few minutes as your blood pressure attempts to adjust to your new position. The likelihood of experiencing orthostatic hypotension rises as one get older and this can be quite dangerous as it can lead to frequent falls. Some people may also experience this type of hypotension after exercising.

Postprandial hypotension is a type of low blood pressure that occurs after one eats. Older people are more prone to this type of condition especially those with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or high blood pressure.

After eating a large amount of blood is required by your intestines for the process of digestion. When your heart rate cannot maintain enough blood pressure for this process, your blood pressure will drop and symptoms then will start to manifest.

Low Blood Pressure Tests and Diagnosis

The typical initial step in diagnosing low blood pressure is by measuring a person’s blood pressure in both the standing or supine (lying) positions. Individuals who manifest symptoms of hypotension often register a sudden drop in their blood pressure when they start to stand and they more often than not may acquire orthostatic symptoms and an increased heart rate. The aim of the diagnosis is to know the factor(s) that cause(s) low blood pressure, that is, as soon as the cause of the symptoms has been ascertained. There are occasions when the causes of hypotension become somewhat obvious. This may, for example, be sudden shock after the person underwent an x-ray test that entailed the use of iodine or loss of blood caused by trauma. Sometimes, the cause may only be known through testing. Tests for low blood pressure can include:

• Blood electrolyte test – This test measures electrolytes in the blood to see if the patient is suffering from too much acid in the blood (acidosis), kidney failure or mineral depletion or dehydration.
• CBC or complete blood count – This test may identify anemia in the patient due to increased white blood cells caused by infection or blood loss
• Urine and blood cultures – These tests are done in order to identify bladder infections and septicemia respectively.
• Cortisol levels – The amount of cortisol in the body is ascertained to effectively diagnose for Addison’s disease or adrenal insufficiency
• AKG or electrocardiograms – An EKG test can monitor for heart muscle damage, pericarditis or abnormally rapid or slow heart beats caused by either poor supply of blood to the heart muscles that has yet not resulted in a heart attack or from previous heart attacks
• Radiology studies – These tests can include computerized tomography (CAT or CT) scans, stomach ultrasounds and chest X-rays to identify conditions such as diverticulitis, pancreatitis, gallstones, heart failure and pneumonia
• Holter monitor recordings – This is used to identify for instances of irregular heart rhythms. If these abnormal rhythms intermittently occur, then it means that the EKG test done during your doctor’s appointment did not detect any irregular rhythm. The Holter monitor is used for a span of 24 hours recording the rhythm of your heart beat for one whole day. The  Holter monitor is utilized to record and diagnose sporadic events of tachycardia or bradycardia.
• Patient-activated event recorder – If the patient experiences sporadic episodes of tachycardia or bradycardia and if a day-long Holter recording fails to capture these episodes, then he can use a patient-activated event recorder for about a month. A patient-activated event recorder is used by pressing a button to commence recording when the patient feels the onset of low blood pressure symptoms or an abnormal heart rhythm caused by low blood pressure. The recordings are evaluated by the doctor to identify the abnormal episodes.
• Ultrasound examinations – This test focuses on the patient’s leg veins. Chest CT scans can help the doctor detect for any pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
• Echocardiograms are examinations of the structures and motion of the heart using ultrasound. Echocardiograms can detect a wide range of heart conditions like rare tumors of the heart, heart valve diseases, muscle damage caused by heart attacks and pericarditis due to too much pericardial fluid.
• Tilt-table tests – These tests are helpful in assessing patients who might be suffering from syncope or postural hypotension caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nerves. When undergoing this test, the patient lies on an examination table and given intravenous infusion while his blood pressure and heart rate is evaluated. Afterwards the table is tilted upright for 1/4 to 3/4 of an hour. Blood pressure and heart rate are observed every minute or so. The aim of a Tilt-table test is to reproduce postural hypotension. The doctor usually prescribes epinephrine (Isuprel or adrenalin) intravenously to cause postural hypotension.

 Nawei’s Acupuncture Clinic
559 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Suite 212
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: 719-632-7103
http://acupuncturechinanawei.com/