hypertension

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed hypertension or high blood pressure a global public health issue (World Health Organization, 2013). Not only does hypertension affect over 1 billion people worldwide but in the Unites States alone, about 76.4 million Americans over the age of 20, equating to about 1 in 3 adults, have hypertension (AHA, 2012). This growing health condition occurs when an individual’s blood pressure when the heart beats (systolic) is higher than 140 millimeter of mercury (mm Hg) and their blood pressure when the heart relaxes (diastolic) is 90 mm Hg or higher (AHA, 2012). The higher the blood pressure means more force is used to pump blood from the heart to arteries, which causes several health problems (AHA, 2012). For instance, the increased force stretches out blood vessels which may lead to tears and ruptures (AHA, 2012). This can also form blood clots that can stop blood from reaching other parts of the body which can cause other organs, specifically the heart, to become overworked (AHA, 2012). Unfortunately, hypertension is also known as a “silent killer” as it does not cause any symptoms (World Health Organization, 2013). If left untreated, hypertension can lead to cardiovascular disease and other fatal health consequences, such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure (World Health Organization, 2013). In fact, the WHO estimates that hypertension accounts for 9.4 million deaths each year (World Health Organization, 2013).
Hypertension can occur in anyone but according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI, 2012). Blood pressure does tend to increase as you age, thus older aged individuals tend to be the highest population that has hypertension (NHLBI, 2012). In...

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... not only recommend and educate their patients but include in their plan of care for their patients to help them manage their hypertension (World Health Organization, 2013).
In this paper, alternative treatments to medicine and aerobic exercises will be considered when comparing which is more effective in decreasing blood pressure and managing hypertension. Specifically, tai chi exercises and acupuncture will be used to compare health outcomes of adults ages 60 and above with hypertension. Studies on acupuncture treatments for hypertensive elderly adults will first be examined and then compared with studies conducted on the utilization of Tai Chi exercises for hypertension. The health outcome measures will include measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressures and observational studies indicating a decrease in blood pressure of hypertensive elderly adults.

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