Study: Tai chi can reduce hypertension symptoms in young and middle-aged in-service staff

Researchers from Zhejiang Hospital in China reported that practicing t’ai chi can help with hypertension. In their study, which was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, they looked at the effect of t’ai chi exercise on hypertension in young and middle-aged in-service staff.

• For the study, the Chinese researchers recruited 208 individuals with grade 1 hypertension.
• They divided the participants into two groups: a treatment group and a control group.
• The treatment group practiced simplified t’ai chi for three months.
• On the other hand, the control group underwent general daily lifestyle intervention.
• The researchers conducted a follow-up at the first and third month of intervention.
• They also measured the participants’ body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood lipid, and other indexes.
• In addition, they evaluated the quality of life of the participants.
• After one month of exercise, the participants who practiced t’ai chi experienced significant reductions in their systolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• At the end of the intervention period, the t’ai chi group experienced substantial decreases in their BMI, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Practicing t’ai chi also improved their quality of life.
• These results showed that t’ai chi can reduce the blood pressure, slow down the heart rate, control the weight, improve the metabolism, and improve the quality of life of young and middle-aged people with grade 1 hypertension.

The authors concluded that t’ai chi is an exercise that improves the health and quality of life of hypertensive people.

Learn more about natural treatments for hypertension by visiting ReverseHeartDisease.news.

Journal Reference:

Shou XL, Wang L, Jin XQ, Zhu LY, Ren AH, Wang QN. EFFECT OF T’AI CHI EXERCISE ON HYPERTENSION IN YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED IN-SERVICE STAFF. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 18 January 2019; 25(1):73-78. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0011