Traditional Medicine vs Complementary Medicine vs Alternative Medicine vs Integrative Medicine
Traditional Medicine vs Complementary Medicine vs Alternative Medicine vs Integrative Medicine ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is planning to use yoga as an integrative medicine for a client who has hypertension. The nurse should expect that yoga may have which of the following effects on the client's blood pressure?
Lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. This statement is partially correct, but not the best answer. Yoga may help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, but this is not the main mechanism of action. Yoga may relax blood vessels by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction¹². However, the main effect of yoga on blood pressure is mediated by the nervous system, not the vascular system³.
Raising systolic and diastolic blood pressure by increasing cardiac output. This statement is incorrect. Yoga does not raise blood pressure by increasing cardiac output, but rather lowers blood pressure by decreasing cardiac output. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute, and it depends on the heart rate and the stroke volume. Yoga can lower the heart rate by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down the heart and reduces stress hormones¹²³. Yoga can also lower the stroke volume by reducing blood volume and venous return, as a result of improved kidney function and fluid balance³.
Lowering systolic blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nervous system activity. This statement is correct. Yoga can lower systolic blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nervous system activity, which is the main cause of hypertension in most cases³. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fightorflight response, which prepares the body for action by increasing the heart rate, constricting the blood vessels, and releasing stress hormones. Yoga can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity by using breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation techniques that calm the mind and body¹²³⁴. Systolic blood pressure is more sensitive to sympathetic nervous system activity than diastolic blood pressure, because it reflects the peak pressure in the arteries during each heartbeat.
Raising diastolic blood pressure by stimulating reninangiotensinaldosterone system. This statement is incorrect. Yoga does not raise diastolic blood pressure by stimulating reninangiotensinaldosterone system, but rather lowers diastolic blood pressure by inhibiting reninangiotensinaldosterone system. The reninangiotensinaldosterone system is a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. It involves the production of renin, a hormone that converts angiotensinogen into angiotensin I, which is then converted into angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that raises blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates the release of aldosterone, a hormone that increases sodium and water retention in the kidneys, which also raises blood pressure. Yoga can inhibit reninangiotensinaldosterone system by reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which stimulate renin production³.
Choice A reason: Lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. This statement is partially correct, but not the best answer. Yoga may help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, but this is not the main mechanism of action. Yoga may relax blood vessels by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction¹². However, the main effect of yoga on blood pressure is mediated by the nervous system, not the vascular system³.
Choice B reason: Raising systolic and diastolic blood pressure by increasing cardiac output. This statement is incorrect. Yoga does not raise blood pressure by increasing cardiac output, but rather lowers blood pressure by decreasing cardiac output. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute, and it depends on the heart rate and the stroke volume. Yoga can lower the heart rate by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down the heart and reduces stress hormones¹²³. Yoga can also lower the stroke volume by reducing blood volume and venous return, as a result of improved kidney function and fluid balance³.
Choice C reason: Lowering systolic blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nervous system activity. This statement is correct. Yoga can lower systolic blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nervous system activity, which is the main cause of hypertension in most cases³. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fightorflight response, which prepares the body for action by increasing the heart rate, constricting the blood vessels, and releasing stress hormones. Yoga can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity by using breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation techniques that calm the mind and body¹²³⁴. Systolic blood pressure is more sensitive to sympathetic nervous system activity than diastolic blood pressure, because it reflects the peak pressure in the arteries during each heartbeat.
Choice D reason: Raising diastolic blood pressure by stimulating reninangiotensinaldosterone system. This statement is incorrect. Yoga does not raise diastolic blood pressure by stimulating reninangiotensinaldosterone system, but rather lowers diastolic blood pressure by inhibiting reninangiotensinaldosterone system. The reninangiotensinaldosterone system is a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. It involves the production of renin, a hormone that converts angiotensinogen into angiotensin I, which is then converted into angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that raises blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates the release of aldosterone, a hormone that increases sodium and water retention in the kidneys, which also raises blood pressure. Yoga can inhibit reninangiotensinaldosterone system by reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which stimulate renin production³.