Hypertension

Hypertension - Damage in rates

Hypertension may be called in Europe a "national epidemic". About a third of the over-50s population has a high blood pressure. Since high blood pressure for several years causes no symptoms, many sufferers know nothing about it. Only the dramatic consequences such as heart attack and brain impact, renal disorders or disorders of the blood circulation in the legs show the impact of hypertension.

In Western medicine, a blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg is considered too high. If, for example, the upper limit raises from 120 to 140 mmHg, the risk for cardiovascular disease doubles. The cause of high blood pressure usually remains hidden. That makes a meaningful treatment sometimes difficult. Possible therapies for hypertension include weight reduction, exercise, nicotine stop, low-salt diet and numerous medications.

Hypertension as a combined syndrome

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not know the disease "hypertension". In TCM, the measurement of blood pressure is not a diagnostic method. But there are symptomatic indications of hypertension. Headache, dizziness or palpitations can be a sign of high blood pressure.

The TCM specialist distinguish numerous disorders that may be associated with high blood pressure. Examples include liver qi stagnation, flaming liver fire or ascending Phlegm-Heat. Some people affected with high blood pressure, have a combination of liver qi stagnation, ascending yang and liver and kidney yin deficiency. Younger patients tend to show plethora signs - adult ones deficiency signs.

As varied as the backgrounds of hypertension are so numerous are the treatments. Basically, acupuncture and herbs are used. Additional treatment options are ear and foot acupuncture, dietetics and relaxation techniques such as Taijiquan and Qigong.