High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a very common health issue that typically develops over a number of years. Over the long term, it can cause damage to blood vessels and organs, leading to other conditions such as heart disease.

Signs & Symptoms

To our knowledge, patients suffering from high blood pressure often do not experience noticeable symptoms. Some people do experience:

Headaches
Tinnitus
Dizziness and blurred vision
Heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
Nosebleeds or blood in the urine
Nausea

These symptoms, however, are not specific to high blood pressure and can rather signal the presence of an underlying disease or the development of complications.

Causes

In our experience, several factors may play a role in the development of hypertension, including:

Diet, notably an excessive intake of salt and alcohol
Smoking
Being overweight
Lack of physical activity
Chronic stress
Sleep apnea and chronic sleep deprivation
Genetics
Certain conditions, including diabetes and high LDL cholesterol
Hormonal changes, including menopause and pregnancy
Certain medications

How we treat it

Acupuncture has been shown to have a positive impact on hypertension: by helping the body to flush out accumulated toxins and supporting its homeostasis mechanisms, it can very effectively reduce blood pressure and keep it low. At the Nei Jing center of Chinese medicine in Jerusalem, we use it in combination with: