Approximately 60 million Americans have hypertension, a condition in which the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels is increased. This condition can be ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, or ‘severe’. The specific cause of hypertension is unknown in 90% of people, but certain risk factors occur. Risk factors include age, race, heredity, sex, obesity, stress, smoking, lack of exercise and diabetes.
It is very important to control the blood pressure because of the serious threat that it presents to one’s health. Strokes, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and heart attacks can occur when the blood pressure is very high.
Sign Chi Do is designed to help decrease some of the risk factors that contribute to hypertension. The practice of Sign Chi Do stimulates the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to release certain substances that affect the body. The ANS is composed of two branches: the parasympathetic system and the sympathetic system. It is the parasympathetic system that is stimulated with the calm repetitive movements of Sign Chi Do. These movements enhance the release of substances called neuropeptides from the brain into the body to conserve energy. The slow, rhythmic Sign Chi Do movements accompanied with deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic system to decrease blood pressure, lower heart rate, enhance digestion and improve overall circulation.
When the blood pressure is controlled, the heart is happier. It is able to pump blood out of the heart to the rest of the body more efficiently, the internal organs of the body function better.
