Did you know that high blood pressure can damage your internal organs and blood vessels? All without drawing attention to itself. Since that’s true, here are some sobering numbers: 1 out of every 3 adults has high blood pressure. And, an amazing 14 million people in the U.S. alone have no clue that their blood pressure is high. But, it gets worse. Only half of those who know have brought their blood pressure under control. That’s why you’ll benefit from learning how chiropractic can help your blood pressure if you’re one of the many who suffer from this health concern.
Why Does High Blood Pressure Cause Damage?
First, a definition: blood pressure is the measure of how much pressure your blood exerts against your artery walls. If you have high blood pressure, your heart needs to work harder. What’s more, your arteries can be damaged. But, it’s a silent killer. Many people experience no symptoms until their blood pressure is dangerously high. Stroke, memory loss, heart disease, and kidney damage can all result from uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Are You at Risk for High Blood Pressure?
The short answer is that it’s hard to know if you’re at risk. Some develop high blood pressure at a young age, seemingly out of nowhere. Others have family history of high blood pressure. Generally speaking high blood pressure afflicts:
- Many people who are overweight
- Smokers more than non-smokers
- Many people with family history of high blood pressure
- More men than women under age 45
- More women than men over age 65
- Sedentary people more than athletes
Here are some sobering numbers: nearly 1 in every 3 Americans suffers from pre-hypertension (blood pressure that is higher than normal, but not considered “high”).
You have pre-hypertension if your blood pressure measures 120-139 systolic (during-heartbeat) / 80-89 diastolic (resting heart).
Anything higher on either measure is considered “high.” Your normal pressure should be less than 120/80.
Because you may be at risk without knowing it, simply stop by the pharmacy every so often. You can use the blood pressure machine to keep track of your status. It’s a vital early-warning system that may help you catch a problem before it fully develops. Catching and addressing high blood pressure can help reduce your risk of serious health issues.
How Chiropractic Can Help Your Blood Pressure Come Down
First, remember that chiropractic’s main purpose is to help your body reach optimal balance – so it can heal itself. Because of that, we don’t try to bring your blood pressure down. We try to restore your body’s proper function.
One of the ways your body’s function can be impaired is through misalignment of the C-1 vertebra, or “Atlas bone” at the top of your neck. If it’s out of line, it can put stress on nerves and arteries around it. This impingement is a contributing factor to raised blood pressure.
If your spine is in proper alignment, health usually improves. Through chiropractic care, many patients experience lower blood pressure. The reason for healing is two-fold:
- When the spine is aligned, you experience relief of communication-hindering pain.
- When your C-1 vertebra is in its correct place, pressure on your brain stem is relieved, allowing your body’s systems to communicate with each other clearly.
According to researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center, chiropractic care is an effective treatment. Fifty patients in the early stages of high blood pressure were included in an 8-week study. Half got chiropractic treatment meant to address blood pressure directly by realigning the Atlas bone. The other half were given general adjustments.
Here’s how chiropractic can help your blood pressure, in real numbers. The patients whose adjustments were real experienced an average drop in their blood pressure of an incredible 17 points. These results are equivalent to what the patients may have experienced using 2 blood pressure medications.
Do you have high blood pressure? Don’t wait any longer to find out how chiropractic can help your blood pressure. Call Back to Health Chiropractic today at (706) 841-9969 or schedule your appointment here.