P05.05. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Hypertension: Yes We Can!

Focus Area: Integrative Approaches to Care Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases in our nation, affecting approximately 75 million adults, according to the American Heart Association. Data from the JNC-7 in 2003 demonstrated that about two-thirds of those individuals who are being treated with conventional antihypertensive agents did not have their blood pressure under control. Thus, there is a clear need for a complementary and integrative approach to fill in the gaps left by conventional medicine in the treatment of hypertension. In addition, many patients either cannot tolerate conventional antihypertensive medications or are more interested in trying other types of treatments to help control their blood pressure. There are myriad complementary and integrative approaches used for antihypertensive effects, and it is beneficial for practitioners to be aware of the available options. But beyond simply knowing about the choices they have to help their patients manage their hypertension, it is also important for providers to know what evidence exists for the different modalities in order to help direct their patients to make the best choices for their own overall health. The poster presentation will address segments on integrative treatment approaches for hypertension that will include (1) acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine; (2) tobacco cessation; (3) massage therapy; (4) mindfulness meditation; (5) qi gong; and (6) overall lifestyle change—diet, exercise, and supplements. For most of the individual segments, there will be demonstrations of techniques to be done either with the group as a whole or with individual volunteers. The presenter will discuss the available research for each of the treatment modalities as well as the types of patients who might respond well to specific types of treatment.