Nearly one third of the US population has high blood pressure, and nearly half a million deaths are linked to high blood pressure each year. It is also a contributing factor in a number of very serious health conditions, including stroke and heart disease.
Blood pressure is simply the force of the blood pushing against the blood vessel walls. Your body needs oxygenated blood to flow throughout your circulatory system to make your organs function properly. Blood pressure is taken by looking at two numbers, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the top number and is the force that occurs when the heart pumps blood into the arteries. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which is the force created by the heart resting between beats. A normal blood pressure is below 120/80, an elevated blood pressure is 120-129/80, and anything above that is considered high blood pressure.
There are a number of risk factors associated with high blood pressure, most of which are controllable. Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and high-stress levels all make a person more likely to develop high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure can, over time, lead to tears in the artery walls, plaque buildup from cholesterol, and even higher blood pressure due to smaller blood vessels, in addition to multiple health problems.
High Blood Pressure Treatment
Most high blood pressure treatment consists of medication that an individual may be on for years or even for their whole life. While that will lower blood pressure and eliminate most of the immediate symptoms of hypertension, it will not eliminate the risks of developing more blood pressure-related conditions. Controlled blood pressure is not cured hypertension.
Thankfully, multiple studies have been done over the past several decades that have found a significant connection between the vertebra and high blood pressure. One study was even written about on WebMD and noted that individuals who received adjustments over an 8 week period saw significant drops in their blood pressure—as much as 14 for the top number and 8 for the bottom number. That is the equivalent of what TWO blood pressure medications combined will do!
Chiropractic Care for Blood Pressure
The atlas vertebra is the top vertebra of the spine and is most often cited as the cause of blood pressure issues. It is considered the fuse box to the entire body because it contains and protects nerves that are critical to many body functions. If it is slightly misaligned even the tiniest bit, those nerves and the neurons that pass through them can become disrupted or interrupted, leading to miscommunications from the brain to the rest of the body. This results in certain organs not working as they should or normal body functions become dysfunctional. Because of its location and importance, the atlas vertebra’s alignment is critical when it comes to optimal body function and overall health. A misalignment in that particular vertebra can lead to a myriad of health problems, both short- and long-term.
If you have high blood pressure or simply wish to maintain your healthy blood pressure levels, be sure to make an appointment with Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Ronnie Bolar at Vital Life Chiropractic. He and his team are committed to helping you optimize your health and body function by keeping your spine in proper alignment.
Sources
Bakris, G., Dickholtz, M., Meyer, P.M., Kravitz, G., Avery, E., Miller, M., Brown, J., Woodfield, C., Bell, B. “Atlas Vertebra Realignment and Achievement of Arterial Pressure Goal in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Study.” Journal of Human Hypertension, 2007 May; 21(5): 347-351. http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Atlas_Vertebra_Realignment.shtml.
DeNoon, D.J. “Chiropractic Cuts Blood Pressure.” WebMD. 2007 Mar. https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20070316/chiropractic-cuts-blood-pressure#1.
Yates, R.G., Lamping, D.L., Abram, N.L., Wright, C. “Effects of Chiropractic Treatment on Blood Pressure and Anxiety: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1988 Dec; 11(6): 484-488. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3075649.