Can acupuncture alleviate certain kinds of chest pain?

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have received a $3.12 million National Institutes of Health grant to study whether acupuncture can alleviate chest pain caused by stable angina. Stable angina is defined as predictable chest pain during exertion or when under mental or emotional stress and is a condition that affects millions of Americans. A large body of research has shown that acupuncture can help mitigate many types of chronic pain. But little is known about its effect on ischemic pain, which is caused when the heart isn't getting enough oxygen, as is the case with stable angina. The two-site study will be led by principal investigators Judith Schlaeger , associate professor in the College of Nursing, and Holli DeVon , professor emeritus in the College of Nursing who is also a professor and the Audrienne Endowed Chair in Research at UCLA. Dr. Joan Briller , cardiologist and professor of clinical medicine in the College of Medicine, is co-investigator and content expert. In a previous pilot study, the team found that acupuncture reduced pain and improved quality of life for participants.