1 in 3 Americans has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, even if he or she may not know it. High blood pressure is known as a silent killer since there are often no clear symptoms. It can be extremely dangerous and is one of the leading causes of stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your blood vessels’ walls. High blood pressure means the pressure is consistently higher than it should be. Over time, the force and friction of high blood pressure can damage your arteries and other internal organs.
Many patients with high blood pressure are prescribed medication to lower levels, but this can have unpleasant side effects. Common side effects of the prescription medication include headache, nausea, lightheadedness, or dizziness. They can also be expensive.
For those looking for a more natural or alternative form of treatment, consider chiropractic care.
What can chiropractic care do?
Studies have shown that adjustments made to the atlas vertebrae significantly reduce levels of high blood pressure.
The atlas vertebrae is at the top of your neck covering the brainstem. Though the bone itself is not associated with heart health, the nerves it protects are. A misalignment of the atlas vertebrae, just like anywhere else, can affect the rest of your body including blood pressure.
Correcting the misalignment through chiropractic care lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Like all chiropractic adjustments, proper alignment of the spine allows for proper function to be restored throughout the body and its many systems. It does not lower blood pressure, but rather allows a person’s blood pressure to be restored to normal levels.
In many cases, you may even find you no longer need prescription medication to manage your blood pressure or you may be able to switch to a lower dose. Reliance on medication can be costly and at times ineffective. If you are in search of a more natural form of treatment, chiropractic care may be the right step for you.
For more information on how chiropractic care can help your blood pressure, contact Harville Chiropractic Center today.