204 hypertensive patients were divided randomly into 'Qigong group' (Qigong with small doses of regular hypotensor) and ''control group± (with regular hypotensor only). The 6-year follow-up showed that the clinical effective rate was 85.00-90.20% and 66.67-69.07% respectively, much in favor of Qigong group. During the period of 6 years, accumulative mortality rate in Qigong group was 17.31%, its stroke mortality rate was 11.54%, while in control group, they were 32.00% and 23.00% respectively. Both rates in Qigong group were much lower than that of control group, indicating that Qigong had played an important role in preventing stroke and improving the prognosis of hypertension. EEG computer analysis showed that Qigong was effective in regulating brain functions. After 6 months of Qigong practice, plasma dopamine-B-hydroxlase (DBH) activity was decreased, plasma HDL-c increased, blood viscosity and platelet aggregation abnormalities improved. In the course of Qigong practice, the infrared radiation was enhanced, while hyperresponse of blood pressure to stress reduced. According to our past and present experiences, we believe that Qigong played a major role in both improving the self regulation and relaxing the multiple cerebro-cardiovascular risk factors. This might be the mechanism by which stroke was prevented.

Clinical observation of 204 patients with hypertension treated with qigong