Chiropractors and Hypertension

Copyright (c) 2014 LifeWorks Integrative health

Did you know that high blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension) affects 1 in 4 Americans? Yes, there is a 25 percent chance that you might find yourself dealing with high blood pressure at some point in your life or another. What you might not know is that chiropractic care cuts blood pressure. Read on to learn a little more about hypertension and how chiropractic care cuts blood pressure.

What is Hypertension?

High blood pressure is an extremely common condition in which the force of your blood against the artery walls is high enough to cause significant health concerns; such as cardiovascular disease.

Your blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart is able to pump and the amount of resistance to blood flow that occurs in your arteries. The more blood that your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure is going to be.

One thing you may not realize about high blood pressure is that you can have it for years without ever experiencing any symptoms. Even if you are experiencing symptoms of high blood pressure, the damage that occurs to your blood vessels and heart can still go undetected. Failure to control hypertension can lead to an increased risk of serious medical conditions; including stroke and heart attack. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected and controlled with regular screenings by your doctor..

Hypertension Symptoms?

Like we discussed earlier, a majority of people with high blood pressure experience no signs or symptoms. Even those with dangerously high levels are likely not to experience symptoms. Very few people experience symptoms. In the early stages of high blood pressure, you may experience dull headaches, dizzy spells and nosebleeds. However, these symptoms usually do not occur until your blood pressure has reached a level that is severe or life-threatening.

What Causes Hypertension?

There are two different types of high blood pressure; both of which have different causes.

Primary (essential) Hypertension. For a vast majority of adults, there is no identifiable reason why they have developed high blood pressure. This type of hypertension has a tendency to gradually develop over many years.Secondary Hypertension. Other individuals may develop hypertension as the result of an underlying condition.

Secondary hypertension usually occurs suddenly and is more of a cause for concern than primary hypertension.. There are a number of reasons why individuals develop secondary hypertension including: kidney conditions, thyroid problems, adrenal tumors, alcohol abuse, obstructive sleep apnea, cogenital defects, the use of illegal drugs and the use of certain medications (birth control pills, cold remedies, over-the-counter pain medications).

How Chiropractic Care Cuts Blood Pressure:

According to the Journal of Human Hypertension, chiropractic adjustments were more effective in lowering blood pressure than two traditional blood pressure medications combined. Dr. George Bakris, director of the University of Chicago Hypertension Center, found that chiropractic care cuts blood pressure and does so without any side effects or problems.

An 8 week study followed 25 patients with early-stage high blood pressure, who were specifically adjusted and has significantly lowered their blood pressure. These 25 participants were compared to 25 similar patients who received "sham" chiropractic adjustments.

Patients received x-rays. X-rays showed that the procedure realigned the Atlas vertebra. The atlas vertebra is the ring-shaped bone at the top-most portion of the spine. Chiropractic treatment of the Atlas vertebra was treated in the 25 subjects not in the "sham" group..Compared to study participants in the "sham" group, those who received an actual chiropractic adjustment were found to have an average of 14mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure and an average of 8mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure. During this study, none of the participants took blood pressure medications.Compared to the sham-treated patients, those who received specific Chiropractic adjustments saw an average 14mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure, and an average of 8mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure. None of the patients took blood pressure medicine during the 8 week study.

Researchers found that injury to the neck in the earlier years of life and affect blood flow to the arteries located in the base of the skull. A spinal subluxation at the Atlas vertebra has been known to interfere with the activity of the Medulla Oblongata -- this is the portion of your brain that controls blood pressure. As a result, specific adjustments of misalignments can help to naturally reset the brain's activity to normal balance. This ensures that the body is better able to recognize high blood pressure on it's on and can work to correct it naturally.

As a result, chiropractic care cuts high blood pressure in a more natural and less conventional method.If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, contact an office near you to see how chiropractic care cuts high blood pressure.