Tai Chi and Blood Pressure
The Question:
Can Tai Chi exercise lower blood pressure?
The Answer:
Yes. Most studies showed a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The Study:
The effect of tai chi exercise on blood pressure: a systematic review.
This review included 9 randomized controlled trials, 13 nonrandomized studies and 4 observational studies. Studies that only looked at the short term effects of exercise were excluded. Blood pressure reduction with Tai Chi was seen in 22 studies. Systolic blood pressure was reduced from 3-32 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 2-18 mm Hg.
Yeh GY, Wang C, Wayne PM, Phillips RS.
Preventive cardiology. 2008 Spring.
Related Links:
Animation: What is Hypertension? – HealthCentral.com.
What is Blood Pressure? – Blood Pressure Canada.
A decrease of 10/5mm Hg (one medication or a change in lifestyle) reduces your risk of developing serious complications as follows…
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