Dr. John Longhurst to Expand Studies on Acupuncture's Effects on Heart

Irvine, Calif., Dec. 19, 2002 -- Dr. John Longhurst, professor of medicine and cardiology and an expert in acupuncture's effects on the heart and circulation, has been named the Lawrence K. Dodge Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology.

Dodge, CEO and founder of American Sterling Corporation of Irvine, and his wife, Kristine, established the chair in 2001 with a pledge of $1.2 million. The chair was set up to support a faculty member who integrates a variety of disciplines in the biological and medical sciences, including complementary therapies like acupuncture.

"I'm grateful for this endowment from Larry and Kristine Dodge, which will accelerate my efforts to scientifically examine relationships between acupuncture, blood pressure and heart functions," Longhurst said. "My hope is this work will eventually provide more effective treatments for high blood pressure and heart disease."

Currently, heart disease is the leading killer of Americans. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, contributes to most of the various types of heart disease. An estimated 50 million Americans have hypertension.

"Endowed chairs like the Dodges' aids our faculty in conducting research that helps answer worldwide health challenges," said Dr. Thomas C. Cesario, dean of the College of Medicine. "I'm confident that this endowment will significantly advance our understanding on how acupuncture effects the heart and will result in better treatments for heart disease."

Longhurst's experiments have shown that acupuncture uses the body's endorphin system to relax blood vessels and keep pressure low, which can reduce the risk of heart disease. He is now focusing on how acupuncture treatments work in the nervous system to control blood flow and pressure.