Blood Pressure
According to the CDC, about 1 of 3 U.S. adults have high blood pressure and barely over half of these individuals have the problem under control. (1) “Those with hypertension have an estimated $2000 more in health care expenditures annually, equating to an adjusted national expenditure of $131 billion.” (2) Is there a more cost effective and natural approach to protect yourself from hypertension?
A drug-free and non-invasive procedure to combat hypertension has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in those affected by it. The study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that: “This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination,” study leader Gearoge Bakris, MD, tells WedMD. “And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems,” adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center. The patients who received the actual remedy compared to those who were given a sham solution, experienced 14mm Hg drop in their systolic blood pressure and an 8mm Hg drop in their diastolic number. Click here for the complete article.
Your atlas (C1), the top vertebral bone in your spine, surrounds and protects the brainstem. Your brainstem controls and regulates the autonomic functions in your body such as blood pressure, heart rate, swallowing, breathing and more. A subluxation that directly or indirectly puts pressure or irritation on the brainstem can effect these functions. Not only is your upper neck region (also known as craniocervical junction) important for brainstem protection, but a misaligned atlas can also effect blood flow to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid flow. Vertebral arteries pass through tiny holes that are located on the sides of the vertebra in this region and they are responsible for bringing oxygen-rich blood to the brain. This blood flow can be inhibited when an upper cervical misalignment is present. When this type of misalignment is present, it can also inhibit the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The pooling of CSF may lead to increased intracranial pressure. A precise correction of the misalignment from an upper cervical chiropractor is vital in relieving these changes and allowing the body to properly adapt and heal.
Upper cervical is not a pill you need to take daily. Once the atlas begins to hold its position, the adjustment isn’t performed or needed daily or even weekly. In addition to regular exercise, weight loss and a strong healthy nutrition regimen, we encourage those dealing with hypertension to give upper cervical chiropractic a try. We never recommend anyone stop taking their medications on their own. If you have the opportunity to decrease or eliminate your medications, it is always advised to work with your doctor in doing so. To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic or to see if it may be just what you need to get your blood pressure back under control, call or contact us to schedule a consultation today.