Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Blood Pressure

The Antihypertensive Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation in Patients With High-normal Blood Pressure and Grade 1 Hypertension

This study will be conducted in patients with high-normal blood pressure and grade 1 hypertension and will be divided into two phases.

In Phase One, a small group of patients will undergo transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation treatment for three consecutive days. Blood pressure changes will be observed before and after each stimulation session, as well as 1 hour, 3 hours, and 5 hours after stimulation, during the night of the treatment day, and the next morning.

Phase Two will be a single-center, single-blind, parallel randomized controlled trial. After screening, patients will be randomly assigned to either the "stimulation" experimental group or the "sham stimulation" control group. For three consecutive days, both groups will receive their respective interventions at the same time each day, and their blood pressure changes will be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Office systolic blood pressure between 130-150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80-95 mmHg
• Age between 18 and 75 years
• Not currently receiving antihypertensive medication or having discontinued antihypertensive medication for more than two weeks
• Able to undergo and complete the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation treatment
• Agree to participate and sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Severe heart conditions, including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, heart failure, or having an implanted cardiac pacemaker
• Skin conditions, including eczema, allergic dermatitis, or seborrheic dermatitis
• Neuromuscular diseases, mental disorders, epilepsy, or cognitive impairment
• Lower limb deep vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis
• Wounds, surgical scars, or malignant tumors at the stimulation areas
• Inability to tolerate the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation treatment or allergic to electrical stimulation
• Currently participating in other clinical trials