Chinese Medicine
High or low blood pressure
High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Low blood pressure can make you dizzy when you stand up. Dr. Pan checks the cause first. Lifestyle and medicine are the main treatment; acupuncture and herbs work well alongside them, helping regulate blood pressure and easing dizziness, headaches and stress.
Please bring your home blood pressure readings, your blood pressure cuff, and a list of the medicines, supplements and herbs you take now.
First, check the cause
Most high blood pressure has no single cause (essential hypertension). Low blood pressure often comes from medicines, not drinking enough, or standing up too fast.
How it is treated
- Checking at home: sit quietly for five minutes, feet flat, arm resting at heart level. Write the numbers down.
- For high blood pressure: less salt, more vegetables and fruit, regular exercise, less alcohol, losing weight if needed, and no smoking.
- Blood pressure medicine, when needed. It helps the most people. Never stop it on your own.
- For low blood pressure: drinking enough, standing up slowly, checking your medicines, and treating the cause.
- Acupuncture, alongside lifestyle and your blood pressure medicine — keep taking it: very thin needles, on points that help regulate blood pressure. It also eases dizziness, headaches and stress, and helps you relax and sleep.
- Chinese herbs, prescribed for your pattern, to help regulate blood pressure and ease dizziness, headaches and tiredness. They are checked against the medicines you already take.
How many visits
Usually once a week at first. Six to eight visits make a course; then you and Dr. Pan look at your home readings and how much better you feel. Any change to your blood pressure medicine is made with Dr. Pan or the doctor who prescribes it, based on those readings.
Common questions
What counts as high blood pressure?
Under U.S. guidelines, a top number of 130 or higher, or a bottom number of 80 or higher, on several different days, counts as high. Readings at home and at the office are both useful.
Can I use acupuncture with my blood pressure medicine?
Yes — they work well together. Keep taking your medicine as prescribed; never stop it on your own, as stopping some blood pressure medicines suddenly is dangerous. If your readings stay good over time, Dr. Pan may lower your medicine with you, step by step.
Is low blood pressure dangerous?
Low numbers with no symptoms are often fine. It matters when it makes you dizzy, faint or fall. Then Dr. Pan looks for the cause — often a medicine.
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Seen in King of Prussia
Patients travel from King of Prussia, Wayne, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Radnor, Conshohocken, Malvern, Phoenixville, Devon and Berwyn.