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Acupuncture’s role in relieving angina pectoris seeks to examine new research that hopes to offer an alternative to sufferers
THE chest pain is a common symptom that affects millions of people around the world. In people who do not have underlying diseases, it is usually due to angina pectoris, which is caused during exercise or under mental or emotional stress. It may also be due to the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries, which results in the reduction of blood flow to the heart, while, according to dr. Joan Briller, cardiologist and professor of clinical medicine at the College of Medicine, may also be responsible for a malfunction in the small arteries that carry blood to the tissues and do not let enough oxygen through.
Available treatments are designed to reduce the effects of these dysfunctions, but they don’t always work, leaving many patients still suffering from debilitating chest pain flare-ups. However, it is important to find an effective solution and not underestimate the problem, as this symptom can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life, removing them from necessary physical activity.
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In an effort to find an effective solution, a team of researchers from the University of Illinois is conducting a study on whether o acupuncture could be utilized as a method of relieving chest pain caused by angina pectoris. A large body of research has highlighted acupuncture as a means of alleviating many types of chronic pain. However, little is known so far about its effect on ischemic pain.
The study will involve 112 people who have been diagnosed with stable angina, experiencing symptoms at least once a week and have been receiving medical treatment for their pain for at least a month. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: One will receive acupuncture sessions twice a week for five weeks, while the other will watch videos for about two hours each week, for a total of five weeks. They will then be followed for three months to determine the time of effect and effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing pain. Participants will be asked about pain levels, symptom control, quality of life and other health indicators throughout the study.
«THE Chronic pain, regardless of its cause, is debilitating,” said Holli DeVon, professor emeritus in the College of Nursing, adding how “theIt is important to offer an alternative solution to patients for whom medication has failed to provide complete relief».