Over the years I have had many people come to our office because of high blood pressure, and we have had absolutely fantastic results. I recently had a discussion with Maggie (one of our massage therapists) about the different causes of high blood pressure, and when chiropractic was more likely to be helpful. I figured this would be a pretty wise thing to share.
First off, high blood pressure is a real concern. Much more of a concern than high Cholesterol. Check out The Cholesterol Conspiracy by Dr. Ladd McNamara, or The Cholesterol Controversy by Edward Pinckney. Both fantastic books by great authors. Both give reason why you shouldn’t get caught up in your cholesterol. But blood pressure has a definite concern, especially when occurring in the average American with their share of scarred arteries. Perfect ground for a hemorrhagic stroke if not careful.
So why does this condition occur? Well, the most prevalent reason is the increase in resistance peripherally (around the body), which causes an increased need for blood pressure to drive blood through the body. Weight alone will do this, thus it makes sense to work to keep the weight under control. – 60 Day is coming
Other causes of blood pressure are a little more intricate, and it is important to note that it is natural for blood pressure to rise and fall based on different lifestyle factors. It is when it seen to stay high, that we should begin looking for cause. It is also important to note, that listed in the common causes on the WebMD site is the use of NSAID’s such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
They go on to talk about salt consumption of course, however, I am here to tell you that high salt alone is not bad. High salt in the presence of other molecules that create a dysfunctional state in the kidney, are likely to result in hypertension. The one area that I think is really cool to understand however, is how the nervous system works when it relates to blood pressure.
There are baroreceptors in the major arteries, which are measuring pressure and giving that feedback to the brain. The brain then alters the flow of blood from the heart to accommodate its needs. It is when these receptors are no longer in clear communication, that the body will begin to elevate blood pressure for no apparent reason. These are chiropractic candidates.
Now mind you, not definitive solutions in the chiropractic office, but we are closer. The bone that directly impacts this in most people, the atlas. There is a great article on WebMD that details a 2007 study, where patients had a great change due to atlas adjustments, in their blood pressure. This study, was actually conducted in the University of Chicago Medical School.
“This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination,” study leader George Bakris, MD, tells WebMD. “And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems,” adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.…
“When the statistician brought me the data, I actually didn’t believe it. It was way too good to be true,” Bakris says. “The statistician said, ‘I don’t even believe it.’ But we checked for everything, and there it was.”
Bakris and colleagues report their findings in the advance online issue of theJournal of Human Hypertension.
Pretty cool to think a little misalignment could be all that there is between you and a perfect blood pressure. As I would advise for anything however… stay away from pursuit of symptom relief… even if it is blood pressure, and stay focused on the cause!
Be well and Be blessed! – Dr. E