This is a game-changer.
New research suggests that acupuncture could potentially reduce the risk of stroke in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Published in the February 13 issue of BMJ Open, the study indicates that acupuncture treatment may lead to decreased levels of inflammatory proteins known as cytokines, which are associated with heart disease, the primary cause of death in people with RA.
The study, led by Dr. Hung-Rong Yen from the School of Chinese Medicine at China Medical University in Taiwan, examined data from over 23,000 RA patients in Taiwan. Among them, nearly 12,300 received acupuncture treatment between 1997 and 2010, starting an average of 2.9 years after their RA diagnosis.
The majority of patients (87%) underwent manual acupuncture, while 3% received electroacupuncture, a technique involving the attachment of an electrode to the needle to produce a low electrical pulse. Additionally, 10% of patients received both manual and electroacupuncture treatments.
Patients were followed until 2011, with researchers analyzing stroke risk in relation to various factors such as age, coexisting conditions, and type of acupuncture treatment. While factors like age and coexisting conditions were found to increase stroke risk, acupuncture appeared to offer independent protection against stroke, irrespective of sex, age, medication usage, or other health conditions.
Among those who received acupuncture, there were 341 reported strokes during the study period, compared to 605 strokes in the non-acupuncture group, translating to a 43% lower risk of stroke for acupuncture recipients.
Although the study revealed a significant association between acupuncture and reduced stroke risk, it’s important to note that the research only establishes a correlation, not causation. Additionally, the study lacked data on certain factors like body weight, laboratory tests, or physical activity levels, which could potentially influence stroke risk.
Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that acupuncture may have potential benefits for individuals with RA in terms of reducing stroke risk. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this association and to explore the broader implications of acupuncture in managing RA-related complications.
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