High Blood Pressure
Chiropractic adjustments, long known to be beneficial for back and joint problems, have now also been validated as a means of reducing high blood pressure (hypertension). A recent study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension gives evidence that a chiropractic procedure tailored to the individual patient can significantly reduce hypertension within 8 weeks. The study was performed on 50 patients with early stage high blood pressure, none of whom were taking medication for the condition. The patients were divided into two groups, only one of which actually received appropriate chiropractic treatment. The others, used as a control group, underwent placebo procedures. Those who received appropriate chiropractic treatment had a 14 point drop in their systolic pressure and an average 8 point drop in their diastolic pressure.
Not only was the significant drop in blood pressure twice what the researchers anticipated, but no adverse side effects were observed in any of the patients. The chiropractic treatment for high blood pressure, which has proven as effective as two hypertension medications used in combination, focuses attention on the atlas vertebra (C-1), the first vertebra in the spine. The atlas bone is the one that holds the weight of the head. If it moves out of its natural position, it can not only interfere with musculoskeletal health, but can create dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, resulting in high blood pressure. Interestingly, even an extremely slight misalignment, as little as half a millimeter, while too small to result in any neck or back pain, may cause the an increase in blood pressure.
Chiropractic Care for High Blood Pressure
The first step taken by chiropractors treating patients with high blood pressure is to take X-rays in order to evaluate the degree that the atlas vertebra has shifted. Once these measurements are taken, the chiropractor designs an appropriate adjustment predicated on the particular misalignment. The manual adjustment for high blood pressure may involve a touch behind the patient's ear or upper cervical region. The touch may vary from gentle to firm according to the degree of misalignment observed on the X-rays.
Once the adjustment has been performed, another set of X-rays is taken to ensure that the misalignment has been corrected.
Advantages of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care, with its holistic approach, has several advantages over allopathic treatment for high blood pressure:
- It is non-invasive
- It involves no medications with possible side effects
- It is a fully natural approach, helping the body to heal itself
- It may provide a permanent solution to the problem
- It offers other health benefits
Even if a particular patient requires ongoing treatment, or has to return for chiropractic adjustments at a later date, patients who receive chiropractic care for high blood pressure may be able to avoid medication all together and reap other benefits of cardiovascular health.