Biomaterial Database

Acupuncture effects on autonomic responses to cold pressor and handgrip exercise in healthy humans. 2004

Holly R Middlekauff, and Janki B Shah, and Jun Liang Yu, and Kakit Hui

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dept. of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, 47-123 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. hmiddlekauff@mednet.ucla.edu

Acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li 4 attenuates the increase in blood pressure during mental stress in healthy humans. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acupuncture at these points has a generalized depressor effect seen during other stimuli to the autonomic nervous system. Thirty-eight healthy humans (mean age 33 +/- 13 years) performed handgrip exercise (n = 20) or the cold pressor test (n = 18) before and after acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li4. To control for repeated interventions, subjects underwent an identical protocol on a different day, during which acupuncture was replaced by quiet rest. Blood pressure and heart rate increased similarly during the first and repeat intervention (handgrip or cold pressor test). Acupuncture did not attenuate the increase in blood pressure (delta mean arterial pressure [MAP] 9.3 +/- 1.8 vs 7.3 +/- 3.1 mmHg) or the increase in heart rate (delta heart rate [HR] 6.7 +/- 2.1 vs 6.0 +/- 2.0 bpm) during handgrip exercise. Similarly, acupuncture did not attenuate the increase in blood pressure (delta mean arterial pressure [MAP] 14.8 +/- 5.0 vs 14.8 +/- 4.8 mmHg) or the increase in heart rate (delta heart rate [HR] 5.3 +/- 2.1 vs 8.7 +/- 3.6 bpm) during the cold pressor test. In summary, in normal healthy humans, acupuncture at P6, Liv 3 and Li 4 does not attenuate the blood pressure or heart rate responses during handgrip exercise or the cold pressor test.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D005082	Physical Exertion	Expenditure of energy during PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Intensity of exertion may be measured by rate of OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; HEAT produced, or HEART RATE. Perceived exertion, a psychological measure of exertion, is included.	Physical Effort,Effort, Physical,Efforts, Physical,Exertion, Physical,Exertions, Physical,Physical Efforts,Physical Exertions
D006339	Heart Rate	The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute.	Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001341	Autonomic Nervous System	The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS.	Vegetative Nervous System,Visceral Nervous System,Autonomic Nervous Systems,Nervous System, Autonomic,Nervous System, Vegetative,Nervous System, Visceral,Nervous Systems, Autonomic,Nervous Systems, Vegetative,Nervous Systems, Visceral,System, Autonomic Nervous,System, Vegetative Nervous,System, Visceral Nervous,Systems, Autonomic Nervous,Systems, Vegetative Nervous,Systems, Visceral Nervous,Vegetative Nervous Systems,Visceral Nervous Systems
D013315	Stress, Psychological	Stress wherein emotional factors predominate.	Cumulative Stress, Psychological,Emotional Stress,Individual Stressors,Life Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stress,Psychological Stress Experience,Psychological Stress Overload,Psychologically Stressful Conditions,Stress Experience, Psychological,Stress Measurement, Psychological,Stress Overload, Psychological,Stress Processes, Psychological,Stress, Emotional,Stressful Conditions, Psychological,Psychological Stress,Stress, Psychologic,Stressor, Psychological,Condition, Psychological Stressful,Condition, Psychologically Stressful,Conditions, Psychologically Stressful,Cumulative Stresses, Psychological,Experience, Psychological Stress,Individual Stressor,Life Stresses,Measurement, Psychological Stress,Overload, Psychological Stress,Psychologic Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stresses,Psychological Stress Experiences,Psychological Stress Measurement,Psychological Stress Measurements,Psychological Stress Overloads,Psychological Stress Processe,Psychological Stress Processes,Psychological Stresses,Psychological Stressful Condition,Psychological Stressful Conditions,Psychological Stressor,Psychological Stressors,Psychologically Stressful Condition,Stress Experiences, Psychological,Stress Processe, Psychological,Stress, Life,Stress, Psychological Cumulative,Stressful Condition, Psychological,Stressful Condition, Psychologically,Stressor, Individual
D014661	Vasoconstriction	The physiological narrowing of BLOOD VESSELS by contraction of the VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE.	Vasoconstrictions