Acupressure therapy for reducing blood pressure in elderly with hypertension

Abstract

Individuals with hypertension often require a considerable recovery period, particularly among the elderly population where the condition is more prevalent. Hypertension affects both physiological and psychological aspects of health in older adults. One common psychological issue in the elderly is anxiety, which often stems from poor adaptation to life changes. Addressing anxiety disorders in elderly patients with hypertension involves two main approaches: pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. In managing this case, the author employed a complementary therapy approach, specifically acupressure, as a non-pharmacological intervention. Acupressure therapy involves massage and stimulation at specific points on the body to promote relaxation and physiological balance. In this intervention, acupressure was applied to points LI4 (Hegu), GV20 (Baihui), GB20 (Fengchi), and GB21 (Jianjing). These points are located on the surface of the body and, when stimulated, can trigger the release of endorphins, which help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of well-being. The results of the acupressure therapy demonstrated a significant reduction in both anxiety levels and blood pressure in the client. This outcome supports the effectiveness of acupressure as a complementary intervention for elderly patients with hypertension. The therapy was implemented in Aster Room 4 at Tidar Regional Hospital, Magelang City. It is hoped that this intervention will serve as a valuable reference for enhancing knowledge, skills, and practices in nursing care. Specifically, it may inform future strategies for managing anxiety in patients with hypertension through holistic and culturally sensitive approaches.

Keywords: Acupressure, anxiety, complementary therapy, elderly, hypertension