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Cho: Effects of Moxibustion on Physiological Indices and Autonomic Nervous Symptoms in Adults with Prehypertension
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2010; 40(5): 686-694.

Published online: 31 October 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.5.686

Effects of Moxibustion on Physiological Indices and Autonomic Nervous Symptoms in Adults with Prehypertension

Soon Hee Cho

Instructor, Department of Nursing, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Cho, Soon Hee. Department of Nursing, Inha University, 253 Yonghyun-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon 441-748, Korea. Tel: 82-32-860-8200, Fax: 82-32-874-5880, mariashcho@hanmail.net

Received 16 October 2009       Accepted 17 October 2010

Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to examine the effects of moxibustion on physiological indices, such as 24-hr blood pressure, pulse pressure, and pulse rate, and autonomic nervous symptoms among adults with prehypertension.

Methods

Participants were adults whose systolic and diastolic blood pressures were in the prehypertension stage and were not under treatment for the condition. Both experimental and control group consisted of 13 participants who were taking classes on acupuncture and moxibustion at a private institute. The experimental group received moxibustion once a day for 15 min, at least 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The results were analyzed using χ2-test, t-test, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and repeated measures ANOVA with the SAS program. Bonferroni correction method was adopted for multiple comparisons.

Results

No significant change was observed in the 24-hr systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups. Differences in the 24-hr pulse pressure and pulse rate were also not significant. However, significant decreases in headache, symptoms of flushing and fatigue were observed in the experimental group.

Conclusion

The results suggest that moxibustion contributes to alleviating symptoms such as headache, flushing and fatigue associated with the autonomic nervous system among adults with prehypertension.

Keywords: Prehypertension, Moxibustion, Blood pressure, Pulse pressure

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics of Participants
jkan-40-686-i001

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

*Fisher's exact test.

Table 2
Homogeneity Test of Research Variables
jkan-40-686-i002

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group; SBP=systolic blood pressure; DBP=diastolic blood pressure; PP=pulse pressure; PR=pulse rate; ANS=autonomic nervous system.

Sleep=11 PM-6 AM; Awake=6 AM-11 PM.

*Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Table 3
Effects of Moxibustion on Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate
jkan-40-686-i003

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group; SBP=systolic blood pressure; DBP=diastolic blood pressure; PP=pulse pressure; PR=pulse rate.

Table 4
Effects of Moxibustion on Autonomic Nervous Symptoms
jkan-40-686-i004

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

abcdeSame letters indicate a significant difference between the two points in time.

Notes

This article is based on a part of the first author's doctoral thesis from The Catholic University.

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