Chiropractic care has been shown to improve the health of the whole body. Far beyond just addressing back pain, it can help with headaches, digestive problems, anxiety, and more. High blood pressure is another health problem that an adjustment can improve. Here are some of the ways chiropractic care can help lower blood pressure.
A Chiropractic Adjustment for Blood Pressure
A study was done at The University of Chicago that showed that a specific adjustment of the atlas or C-1 vertebra causes an average reduction of 17 points in blood pressure. To match this effect from a single chiropractic adjustment, you’d have to take two blood pressure medications at the same time to see that big a drop. The atlas is the very top vertebra in your spine, so all the signals from the brain to the body pass this point. It makes sense that a subluxation at this critical area would have a profound effect on the rest of the body, including the blood vessels.
Reducing Pain
Chronic pain increases your risk of high blood pressure. Addressing imbalances in the spine can help resolve pain throughout the body. It can obviously ease back pain, but a properly aligned spine also helps return balance to the rest of the body. Chiropractic patients often feel relief in their knees and other joints as well as their backs. Healing the problems that cause pain is a relief to the body in more ways than one, and eliminating this pain contributes to lowering your blood pressure through an overall sense of pain relief.
Emotional Calm
Chiropractic care has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. Even in a mild state, these emotional struggles add stress to people’s lives, and elevated stress levels are another risk factor for high blood pressure. A chiropractic adjustment is the kind of self-care that not only feels good, but it does good. Restoring balance to your body also helps bring balance back to the mind.
If you’re exploring the ways chiropractic care can lower blood pressure, contact your nearest chiropractor today to see how we can help. At 100% Chiropractic, we are committed to helping our patients live their best, most vibrant lives.
