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Hypertension

It is considered a chronic disease characterized by high blood pressure levels in the arteries. It occurs when the maximum and minimum pressure values ​​are equal to or exceed 140/90 mmHg. High blood pressure causes the heart to exert a greater than normal effort to cause blood to be distributed in the body. Over time, the heart may have sequelae for working by exerting greater effort. Hypertension affects millions of adults and then causes strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and kidney disease.

 

Causes of high blood pressure:

This disease is inherited from parents in 90% of cases, but there are several factors that influence blood pressure levels, including:

  • Smoke;

  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages;

  • Obesity;

  • Stress;

  • High salt consumption;

  • High cholesterol levels;

  • Lack of physical activity;

In addition to these risk factors, it is known that the incidence of high blood pressure is higher in the black race, in diabetics, and increases with age.

 

High blood pressure symptoms:

The symptoms of hypertension usually appear only when the pressure rises a lot: chest pain, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ear, weakness, blurred vision and nosebleed may occur.

 

Diagnosis

The diagnosis must be made by a doctor. It is recommended to measure the pressure regularly. People over 20 years of age should measure the pressure at least once a year. If there are cases of people with high blood pressure in the family, it should be measured at least twice a year.

 

Prevention:

In addition to the drugs currently available, it is essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle:

  • Maintain the appropriate weight;

  • Do not abuse salt;

  • Practice regular physical activity;

  • Enjoy moments of leisure;

  • Quit smoking;

  • Moderate alcohol consumption;

  • Avoid fatty foods;

  • Control diabetes.

 

Reflexology is an effective tool to treat hypertension, when some risk factors have already been addressed, the main one being the abuse of salt in food. Reflexology works to mitigate another risk factor, the stress that generates the most important physiological imbalance for a hypertension picture to be established. Reflexology also mitigates factors that lead to diabetes, which is also a risk factor.

 

Reflexology treatment for high blood pressure should begin with stimuli in the seven endocrine glands, which control the entire metabolic system. Then, the massage should move to the organ that causes the disease, and then the organ that is affected by the disease (reflex zones of the kidney, liver, heart and lungs).

 

Special attention must be paid to the adrenal gland as it is responsible for controlling anxiety and stress . This mechanism, when balanced, will help to control variations in blood pressure levels due to stress.

 

There is no single treatment for hypertension. A reflex therapist will always look for indications of one or more causes that may be causing an imbalance. However, some reflex areas will always be addressed:

  • Hypothalamus . One of those responsible for regulating pressure and heart rate;

  • Pineal gland ;

  • Work the pituitary (pituitary) gland. Produces the ACTH hormone that regulates the production of Suprarrenal Cortex;

  • Bulb . Responsible for controlling various autonomic functions for the body such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, reflex act and vomiting;

  • Cerebellum;

  • Spine, emphasis on T2;

  • Circulation;

  • Work on the adrenal glands because your adrenal gland has the ability to regulate the body's circulatory system. The hormone norepinephrine or norepinephrine has the function of balancing blood pressure;

  • Work the thyroid to regulate blood pressure;

  • Parathyroid;

  • Pancreas ;

  • Thymus gland;

  • Ovaria (for women) or testicles (for men);

  • Relax from your diaphragm reflex, in order to relax the chest cavity, as well as promote better breathing;

  • Work the solar plexus and, thus, stimulate even more relaxation;

  • Work the organs directly related to hypertension,

  • Finally, work on the reflexes of organs damaged by hypertension, such as the brain and eyes;

  • If the person is unbalanced with symptoms of burnout, also work on the point of tension and the point of exhaustion.

 

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Source : https://saude.gov.br/saude-de-az/hipertensao

 

Academic articles that attest to the effectiveness of reflexology in the treatment of arterial hypertension:

 

a) Foot Reflexology Can Increase Vagal Modulation, Decrease Sympathetic Modulation, and Lower Blood Pressure in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Coronary Artery Disease .

Authors : Lu, Wan-An & Chen, Gau-Yang & Kuo, Cheng-Deng.

Date of publication : 2010.

Alternative therapies in health and medicine. 17. 8-14.

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b) The effect of reflexotherapy on some of the patients' vital signs before CABG surgery

Authors : Moeini, Mahin & Kahangi, Leila & Valiani, Mahboubeh & Heshmat, Reza.

Date of publication : 2011.

Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research. 16. 24-8.

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c) Effect of Foot Reflexology on Blood Pressure and Quality of Life among Patients with Essential Hypertension

Authors : Amany Ali Mahmoud Ali El-Abd1; Kamelia Fouad Abdalla;
Hanan Gaber Mohamed; Marwa Mosaad Ali.

Publish Date : 2019

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