The Effects Of Acupuncture At Shenmen On Heart Rate Variability In Patients With Essential Hypertension

Objective: To confirm the effect of acupuncture at bilateral Shenmen points on heart rate variability(HRV)in patients with essential hypertension,and to explore its relative specific effect on HRV indexes,so as to provide objective basis for acupuncture to improve cardiac complications in patients with essential hypertension.Methods: A total of 60 patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into observation group and control group,30 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with acupuncture at Shenmen point for 20 minutes;The control group was treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong point for 20 minutes.The changes of frequency domain indexes of heart rate variability(LF,HF,LF/HF)and blood pressure were observed before and after acupuncture.Results: After acupuncture at Shenmen point,the frequency domain indexes of HRV in patients with essential hypertension were decreased,while HF was increased.LF,HF and LF/HF were statistically significant(P<0.01).There was no significant change in corresponding indexes of acupuncture at Xuanzhong(P>0.05).There was significant difference in LF,HF and LF / HF between the two groups after treatment(P<0.05).After acupuncture,the systolic blood pressure in the observation group decreased significantly(P<0.01),but the diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly(P>0.05);There was no significant change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the control group(P>0.05).The decrease of systolic blood pressure in the observation group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion: Acupuncture at Shenmen has relative specificity for HRV in patients with essential hypertension,which provides an objective basis for acupuncture to improve cardiac complications in patients with hypertension.