British researchers tested a small device that sends light electrical pulses to nerves in the ear, aiming to help lower blood pressure in patients who do not respond adequately to drug treatment. This technology comes as a potential additional option for controlling high blood pressure, given the need for non-surgical alternatives.
According to the scientific website ScienceDaily, in a report published yesterday Saturday, a research team from Queen Mary University of London, led by Dr. Ajay Gupta, conducted a trial involving 63 patients taking medication to lower blood pressure. The results of this study were published in the journal Hypertension, affiliated with the American Heart Association.
Participants used the device for 30 minutes daily during the first two weeks, then once a week over ten weeks, aiming to evaluate its safety and effectiveness in lowering blood pressure compared to a sham device. The device works by stimulating nerves in the outer part of the ear with light electrical pulses, attempting to influence the neural mechanisms that contribute to regulating blood pressure.
The results showed that the device was safe and easy to use at home, but it did not achieve a significant additional reduction in blood pressure for all participants compared to the sham device. However, some patients with more severe high blood pressure recorded encouraging results. Researchers confirmed that the results are still preliminary, and broader clinical trials are needed to verify the effectiveness of this technology and identify the patients who benefit most from it.
The research team emphasized that the device is not a substitute for prescribed medications for treating high blood pressure. These results open the door to continuing research into non-surgical technologies that may help improve control of high blood pressure, especially among patients for whom medications do not yield the desired results.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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