Effects of Qigong on Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Determinants and Ventilatory Function in Middle-Aged Patients with Essential Hypertension

Abstract

This study was designed to measure changes in blood pressure (BP), urinary catecholamines and ventilatory functions of patients with mild essential hypertension after 10 weeks of Qigong (Shuxinpingxuegong). Fifty-eight patients volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into either a Qigong group (n = 29), or a control group (n = 29). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the Qigong group such that both became significantly lower after 10 weeks in the Qigong than in the control group. Also, there was a significant reduction of norepinephrine, metanephrine and epinephrine compared to baseline values in the Qigong group. The ventilatory functions, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume per sec, were increased in the Qigong group but not the control. These results suggest that Qigong may stabilize the sympathetic nervous system is effective in modulating levels of urinary catecholamines and BP positively, and in improving ventilatory functions in mildly hypertensive middle-aged patients.

Effect of a qigong exercise programme on elderly with depression

“…This echoes a previous claim (Yu et al, 1999) and empirical study (e.g. Lee et al, 2003) that qigong could relieve depression. The reasons for being successful to obtain significant results were our involvement of larger sample, more depressed subjects, and better control of intervening variables.…”

“…It has been applied widely for conditions ranging from hypertension, muscular dystrophy, stroke, to mental disorders (Sancier, 1996;Lee et al, 2003;Wenneberg et al, 2004). In mental health, literature is emerging rapidly as to its ability to induce relaxation, reduce anxiety and elevate mood.…”

Qigong as a Novel Intervention for Service Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

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Impact of Qigong Exercise on Self-Efficacy and Other Cognitive Perceptual Variables in Patients with Essential Hypertension

“…In preclinical and postclinical studies, qigong has effectively reduced blood pressure and catecholamines in patients with essential hypertensive (Lee et al, 2003). Furthermore, qigong has been reported to reduce sympathetic activity, and enhance parasympathetic activity (Lee et al, 2002).…”