• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.298-304
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the association of blood pressure levels with the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and carotid plaques. Methods : Data were obtained from 2,635 subjects, aged 50 years and over, who participated in the Community Health Survey (a population-based, cross-sectional study) in Dong-gu, Gwangju city between 2007 and 2008. Participants were categorized into three groups according to blood pressure levels; normotensives (<120/80 mmHg), prehypertensives (120-139/80-89 mmHg), and hypertensives ($\geq$140/90 mmHg). Prehypertensives were further categorized as low prehypertensives (120-129/80-84 mmHg) and high prehypertensives (130-139/85-89 mmHg). Carotid intima-media thickness and plaques were evaluated with a high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test, ANOVA, and multiple logistic regression. Results : Prehypertensives had significantly greater maximal CCA-IMT values than normotensives, with a multivariate adjusted odds ratio of 1.78 (95% CI=1.36-2.32) for abnormal CCA-IMT (maximal CCA-IMT$\geq$1.0 mm), and 1.45 (95% CI=1.19-1.77) for carotid plaques. The multivariate adjusted odds ratio of low prehypertensives was 1.64 (95% CI=1.21-2.21) for abnormal CCA-IMT, and 1.30 (95% CI=1.04-1.63) for carotid plaques compared with normotensives. Subject with hypertension had higher frequency of abnormal CCA-IMT (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% CI=1.49-3.18), and carotid plaques (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% CI=1.46-2.67) compared with normotensives after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions : Our results indicate that there is a significant increase in the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with prehypertension (even in low prehypertensives) compared with normotensive subjects. Further studies are required to confirm the benefits and role of carotid ultrasonography in persons with prehypertension.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1500-1507
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• 2005

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of the physical and behavioral risk profiles for cardiovascular disease among industrial workers, and to examine predicting factors for the subgroups. Sample and Method. Health records of 2,616 male and female workers aged 19-56 years who were employed in an airplane manufacturing industry were analyzed. Data were analyzed using the Latent class cluster analysis. Results. Four different clusters (two high-risk groups, one low-risk group, and one normal group) were found and these clusters were significantly different by age, gender, and work type (p < .05 ). The two high-risk groups had higher chances of drinking alcohol, elevated BMI, FBS, total cholesterol, having hypertension, and were significantly older, and had relatively high chances of being day workers rather than other groups. The low-risk group had higher chances of drinking alcohol, higher BMI and total cholesterols compared to normal group, and highest portions of current smokers and shift workers in the four clusters and their mean BP was within prehypertension criteria. Conclusion. Industrial nurses should guide the lifestyle behaviors and risk factors of the high risk groups for CVD and need to intervene early for behavioral change for the low-risk group who are young and shift workers. Age, and work environment should be considered in planning for targeted preventive interventions for industrial workers.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate how Bone Mineral Density(BMD) and bone mass index(BMI) differ according to classification of blood pressure which JNC 7(The seventh report of the joint national committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure) indicated. Methods : We measured BMD and BMI of lumbar spine($L_2-L_4$) and femoral neck of 9816 people, and then we analyzed them according to classification of blood pressure. Results : The number of prehypertension group was the most, and Stage 2 hypertension group was the least. As the hypertension was increasing, BMD of lumbar and femoral neck were decreasing, and BMI was increasing. In men, as the blood pressure was increasing, BMI was increasing. But the BMD was irrelevant. In women, the distribution was similar to the total. Conclusions : As the hypertension was increasing, BMI was increasing and BMD was decreasing. And it was more remarkable in women.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.141-149
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• 2012

This study investigates the effects of wear training on blood pressure and blood lipid profiles. For the purpose of this research, 'wear training' refers to the alternating stimulation of temperature while using specific clothing under controlled situations ($18.8{\pm}0.2^{\circ}C$, $38{\pm}3%RH$). The participants alternated between two different garments producing a $1.5^{\circ}C$ difference in the innerest microclimate temperature over a period of 4 weeks. The experiments in this study were conducted in a comfortable environment after sufficient rest. The results were as follows. The systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were lower in the post test than in the pre test (p<.05). The atherogenic index (AI) was also reduced and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio increased (p<.05) in the post test. These results demonstrated that wear training positively affected improvement in vascular stiffness.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.720-728
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to identify awareness of hypertension prevalence among Korean youth and related causes. Data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, conducted in 2016 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were used to apply weights for complex sample analysis. A total of 1,075 data age 19~35 Korean youth were used for analysis. The analysis demonstrated that 25.7% of age 19~35 Korean youth were in the prehypertension stage and 6.1% were in the hypertension stage. Those aware of hypertension was 0.3%. This revelation necessitates establishment of preventive measures by way of physical examination among youth to ensure no youth are left untreated in terms of health management. This study indicated that diabetes affects hypertension significantly among males (p<0.0001), with low income (p=0.034) and obesity (p<0.0001). Consequently, they should be managed as high-risk, and it is imperative to educate them about changes in lifestyle such as walking or less dining-out, rather than engaging in specific sports activities or nutrient intake.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.445-454
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• 2011

This study was performed on 5 prehypertensive male participants to investigate the effects of the clothing program for improving the vascular compliance on heat tolerance. The clothing program means the alternate stimulation of the temperature using clothes. The participants wore two different garments with $1.5^{\circ}C$ difference in the temperature inside clothing in a climatic chamber ($18.8{\pm}0.2^{\circ}C$, $38{\pm}3%RH$) alternately for 4 weeks. Heat tolerance tests were conducted in the climatic chamber of $35.2{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$, $54{\pm}3%RH$ before and after the clothing program. The results were as follows. The $\overline{T}$sk, Tr and heart rate were lower in the post test than in the pre test (p<.01). The whole body and local sweat rates as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressures had reduced the tendencies in the post test. Participants felt less wet and more comfortable in the post test than in the pre test(p<.01). These results showed that the clothing program through the alternate stimulation of the temperature positively affected the improvement of heat tolerance.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate effective treatment point selection method using oppressive pain in acupoints as elementary attempt for standard methodology of clinical acupuncture studies. Methods : Twenty seven subjects with hypertension or within prehypertension category - systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) over 120/80mmHg - were divided into two groups, oppressive pain point treatment group and oppressive painless point treatment group. In oppressive pain point treatment group, single point acupuncture (SPA) was conducted for 16 sessions during 8 weeks on most oppressive painful point among 6 selected acupuncture points used in previous trials and clinic. As a SPA intervention, 15 minutes with deqi sensation- elevating manipulation was conducted on the treatment acupoint. Same process was conducted in oppressive painless point treatment group on most oppressive painless point with subject blinding. Results : Significant reduction was observed in both systolic and diastolic BP after short time intervention (15.5/8.8 mmHg, 10.7/7.1 mmHg, P<0.05, respectively at 1 week) and maintained for 8 weeks intervention period in all groups (12.8/8.0 mmHg, 19.4/12.6 mmHg, P<0.05, respectively). No significant difference of BP change between oppressive pain point treatment group (N=10) and oppressive painless point treatment group (N=9) was observed during 8 weeks study period. Conclusions : SPA treatment as used in this pilot study was effective for lowering BP in mild hypertensive population, but oppressive pain in acupoint had no effect on treatment. This present result suggests the possibility of SPA for hypertension treatment regardless of oppressive pain.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.573-584
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was conducted with 10 men and women in their 50s-60s to investigate the effect of agro-healing activities on the improvement of mental health. Methods: The experimental group participated in total 8 sessions of agro-healing activities, once a week for 2 hours each, at a care farm in Wanju-gun. Physiological measurements were taken with an electroencephalogram (EEG), Salivettes samples, and blood pressure before and after the activities. Results: As a result of analyzing the changes in brainwaves of the experimental group before and after agro-healing activities, relative slow alpha (RSA), relative fast alpha (RFA), and ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB), the indices of stability and relaxation, increased after the program with statistical significance. Also, the ratio of SMR to theta (RST) of the attention index increased on the right frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and left occipital lobes, and relative low beta (RLB) increasd on the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and occipital lobes after the program with statistical significance. The sympathetic nervous system activity, which is a stress index, decreased after the program, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is a relaxation index, increased, showing statistical significance (p < .05). As a result of analyzing the changes in blood pressure after the program, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased from prehypertension to normal blood pressure, showing statistical significance. SThese results indicate that participating in agro-healing activities at a care farm for the 50-60s helps reduce stress and improve stability and relaxation as well as attention. Conclusion: Thus, developing and applying customized agro-healing programs for participants will have a positive effect on brain activity and psychophysiological improvement by relieving tension and stress. However, there are limitations in generalizing the results of this study since most of agro-healing farms have low accessibility that leads to a low level of participants.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.425-434
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate psychological and physiological changes of elderly affected by agro-healing activities. To meet the purpose, we conducted an agro-healing program with 20 elderly participants (average age 77.6±5.84 men and women) and once a week in total seven sessions. The Korean version of the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K), Korean version of the Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K), participants' satisfaction with the program, Salivettes system method, and blood pressure were measured to find out the effects of agro-healing activities. BEPSI-K decreased by 5% in the high stress group although it was not statistically significant. The result of program satisfaction showed that 75% of the participants are satisfied with these activities. We investigated how many and what kind of chronic diseases the participants have had before they joined the program. As a result, hypertension was most common(35.6%), followed by hyperlipidemia, diabetes, arthritis, lumbago, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Systolic blood pressure after the activities decreased significantly from 144.75mmHg (stage 1 hypertension), to 132.90mmHg(prehypertension stage). As a result of analyzing the correlations between general matters such as age, education level, average income of the participants, psychological scale and number of diseases, it was found that participants' satisfaction had a negative correlation with depression. In conclusion, agro-healing is very useful in relieving stress or lowering blood pressure for the elderly whose most common disease is hypertension. Agro-healing activities are proved to have positive uses in reducing the problems of the modern society with severe issues of the aging population.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find out the effects of agro-healing activities and strolling on the physiological conditions of patients with chronic metabolic diseases. A total of 11 subjects participated in agro-healing activities, and their average age was 49.6±11.3. Changes in their salivary cortisol were compared and analyzed before and after participating in the agro-healing activity program, and it was found that the stress hormone decreased after participating in the program. Differences in brain wave between before and after participating in agro-healing activities and strolling were measured, and the ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB) of subjects increased in most of the measured points after participating in agro-healing activities. In addition, the increase in the value in the temporal lobe (T3) that controls mortor skills and occipital lobe (O2) that controls visual functions indicates that the activities were effective in improving relaxation and stability. The relative low beta (RLB) power spectrum of subjects also statistically significantly decreased in the right occipital lobe (O2) that controls visual functions, the relative mid beta (RMB) and relative high beta (RHB) power spectrum decreased in the left temporal lobe (T3) and the right occipital lobe (O2). These results indicate that the activities were effective in improving relaxation under no stress and tension. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure of subjects after participating in agro-healing activities decreased from the prehypertension level to the normal level. These results indicate that horticultural activities and visual elements in healing farms, such as agro-healing activities and strolling, have positive impacts on patients with chronic metabolic diseases accompanied with diabetes or high blood pressure by increasing the brain activity and psycho-physiological conditions of participants.