Tai Chi is a type of Chinese martial art that involves slow, deliberate movements. This gentle form of exercise has many great benefits, including relaxing, low-impact exercise that a wide range of people can participate in. Similar to meditation and yoga practices, tai chi involves deliberate breathing, a meditative state of mind, and slow movements that are not intended to be strenuous. Tai Chi can help improve balance and posture, increase flexibility, and strengthen muscle strength. However, recent research suggests that Tai Chi may also help lower blood pressure.
Can Tai Chi lower blood pressure?
A new study published a few weeks ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that tai chi may be a useful tool in managing high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects more than half of the American population over the age of 20, according to the American Heart Association. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to a variety of poor health conditions, including an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, vision loss, and more.
Researchers who published a study titled “Effects of Tai Chi and Aerobic Exercise on Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients” investigated the results through a randomized clinical trial. The study randomly assigned 342 Chinese adults diagnosed with prehypertension. The group was then divided in half, with half of the group practicing tai chi and the other half doing aerobic exercise (jogging, brisk walking, going up and down stairs, etc.). In both groups, he was instructed to exercise for one hour four times a week. Each group followed his one-year exercise plan.
research result
The results of this Tai Chi study are certainly interesting. The group that practiced tai chi had a more pronounced drop in blood pressure readings than the group that did aerobic exercise. Researchers found that 22% of participants in the tai chi group improved their blood pressure readings, bringing them within normal limits (compared to just 16% in the aerobic exercise group). Although these results are certainly promising, further research is needed in the field of Tai Chi to draw stronger conclusions.
How to lower blood pressure with Tai Chi
If you’re looking for a natural way to improve your blood pressure readings, it may be worth incorporating Tai Chi practice into your fitness routine. Practicing Tai Chi triggers a response in the parasympathetic nervous system, a network of nerves that helps the body “rest and digest.” Therefore, practicing Tai Chi regularly can help you better manage your body’s stress response and, in turn, your blood pressure levels.
Unlike other exercises that require a lot of equipment, Tai Chi can be practiced anywhere and requires no equipment. Even better, anyone of any fitness level can learn Tai Chi in no time. Not only is it worth trying to improve your blood pressure, you may also enjoy other benefits, such as improved cognitive function and physical fitness.
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