A meta-analysis of eight clinical trials conducted between 2000 and 2014 demonstrates the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of stable angina. (1) In all eight clinical trials, patients treated with acupuncture experienced a greater rate of angina relief than those in the control group treated with conventional drug therapies (90.1% vs 75.7%). (2) Additionally, the ECG (electrocardiogram, EKG) results of seven studies demonstrate the superiority of acupuncture over conventional drug therapies for the improvement of ST segment (flat portion of the ECG wave between S and T) ischemia. (3)
Angina pectoris is a symptom of transient myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. (4) It is characterized by temporary pain and a feeling of constriction in the chest, as well as substernal pain that may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, arm and epigastrium. (5) The most common risk factor for angina pectoris is coronary artery disease (CAD). (6) Patients with angina are at increased risk for acute myocardial infarction; the prognosis depends on the severity of the CAD and the degree to which their heart function is impaired. Though incidence of angina pectoris differs between countries, it is estimated that between 4.9 – 12.5% of men and 5 – 9.2% of women will experience it each year. (7)
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