Recent research has found that chiropractic adjustment to the atlas vertebra in the spine can help lower high blood pressure. Chiropractors across the country have known for years and years that chiropractic care can reduce hypertension. The correction to the atlas vertebra or C1 is at the very base of the skull. According to the researchers this very specific adjustment to the C1 is extremely specialized to the chiropractic profession. The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association takes credit for the technique used in this particular research project. The good news here is that virtually all chiropractors are very well trained to correct atlas/C1 misalignments.
The chiropractic procedure was as effective as two of the most popular blood pressure medications currently being used. Eight weeks after being treated with C1 correction the patients with early stage high blood pressure (above 139/89) has significantly lower blood pressure that the other control group. Those patients who were adjusted saw an average drop of at least 14 mmhg points in the systolic blood pressure (top number) and 8 mmhg drop in the diastolic pressure (bottom number). The patients in this particular study were taking no blood pressure medication.
High blood pressure has been associated with several known factors such as smoking, overweight, lack of exercise, high consumption of alcohol, stress, aging, heredity, kidney disease, adrenal and thyroid disorders. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure. It has been estimated that nearly one third of all people do not know they have hypertension. The only way to determine if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked. Your doctor will check your blood pressure by using a meter called a sphygmomanometer (say that fast three times), stethoscope, arm cuff, dial, pump and valve. It is a good idea to monitor your own blood pressure at home as sometimes patients are intimidated by the “white lab coat.”Continue reading full article here.
