The patients manifest persistent high blood pressure, accompanied by general symptoms like vertigo and headache. Some senile patients have high blood pressure, but are free from marked subjective symptoms. In this case, diagnosis should be made on the basis of the lab examinations.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment

Hyperactive yang due to yin deficiency

It manifests headache, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, soreness and flaccidity of the waist and knees, occasional flushed face, numbness of limbs, red tongue with thin fur or without fur, taut, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to nourish yin and suppress yang. The prescription used is the modified Tianma Gouteng Decoction (Decoction of Gastrodia and Uncaria). As for the traditional Chinese patent medicine, select Zhibai Dihuang Pill (Pill of Anemarrhena, Phellodendrono and Rehmannia).

Yin deficiency of the liver and kidney

It manifests light-headedness, unsmooth and dry eyes, tinnitus, deafness, lumbar soreness, flaccidity of legs, pain of heels, red tongue without fur, deep, thready and slow pulse. It is suitable to nourish and tonify the liver and kidney. The prescription used is the modified Qiju Dihuang Decoction (Bolus of Six Drugs, Rehmannia with Wolfberry and Chrysanthemum). It is also advisable to select its patent.

Deficiency of both yin and yang

It manifests light-headedness with the sensation of walking like sitting in a boat, lusterless complexion, occasional fever, palpitation, short breath, soreness and flaccidity of the waist and knees, frequent and profuse nocturnal urine, or edema, pale and tender tongue, deep and thready or tense pulse. It is advisable to regulate and strengthen yin and yang. The prescription used is the modified Erxian Decoction. As for the traditional Chinese patent medicine, select Jinkui Shenqi Pill.

Rehabilitation methods

Regulating emotions

Emotional dissatisfaction, excessive joy and anger often affect the hepatic function of regulating qi and blood, the renal function of nourishment, giving rise to continuous high blood pressure. Therefore, regulating emotions is of great importance for the rehabilitation of the disease.

(l) Enlightening method Adopt the methods of interpretation, consolation, encouragement and assurance to lessen and eliminate abnormal emotional reactions and pathogenic emotional factors.

(2) Behavior therapy Adopt mostly biofeedback therapies, apply the continuous value-displaying electronic manometer, dermothermometer and electromyograph to instruct patients in judging the effect of lowering blood pressure from the readings of these instruments or other visible and audible signals. Besides, train the patients to practice muscular relaxation and normal respiration. Synthesize the results displayed in the instruments to adjust the training methods constantly. Maintain the self control over blood pressure by means of repeated self somatopsychic training.

Recreation therapy

Participate in recreational activities like gardening, fishing, practicing calligraphy and painting, playing a musical instrument and appreciating music. As for the musical therapy, select the type of music of "expressing emotions" and "removing depression" alternately.

The patients should not have the activities with the movement of the head below the horizontal position so as to avoid aggravating the symptom of discomfort of the head due to the gravitational influence no matter whatever sports events are selected. Tt is not advisable to have competitive activities to prevent emotional excitement, do not have weight-carrying activities to avoid breath holding which conversely and reflexively elevates blood pressure.