The use of acupressure for managing hypertension in the elderly

Abstract

Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. If left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and eye damage. These complications can be prevented through two main approaches: pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy. Pharmacological therapy involves the use of medications or medical treatments, while non-pharmacological therapy focuses on lowering blood pressure without reliance on drugs or associated side effects. One such non-pharmacological method is acupressure therapy, a form of physiotherapy that involves massaging and stimulating specific points on the body. In this case, acupressure therapy was applied over three visits. The patient cooperated well during the therapy sessions, and a significant reduction in blood pressure was observed after the intervention. Before the first session of acupressure therapy, the patient's blood pressure was recorded at 178/90 mmHg. After three days of therapy, the blood pressure had decreased to 130/83 mmHg, representing a reduction of 48 mmHg. This suggests that acupressure therapy, when applied to the Hegu, Zusanli, and Taichong points, is effective in lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Keywords: Acupressure; hypertension; nursing care; complementary therapy; elderly care