A simple Chiropractic adjustment could reduce your blood pressure. In a trial conducted at the Rush University Hypertension Center in Chicago, a group of 50 patients received either an adjustment to the upper cervical vertebra (known as the Atlas), or a sham procedure designed to imitate the real thing but produce no benefit.
Those who received the real adjustment had an average decrease of 17 points in their systolic blood pressure, and 10 points in their diastolic pressure. The decrease in blood pressure lasted for at least the 8 weeks of follow-up in the study. (J Hum Hypertens 07;(Mar 2):Epub ahead of print, PMID 17252032)
It was noted that patients who received an adjustment of the Atlas for other reasons had a spontaneous reduction in blood pressure as well. The effect is likely due to the fact that so many parts of the nervous system and cardiovascular system are packed together at that point in the neck. The Atlas is the uppermost vertebra just under your skull and through which your brainstem traverses. It is a uniquely shaped ring of bone that is held in place by soft tissue rather than interlocking like the rest of the vertebra. Misalignment of the Atlas can apply pressure to this delicate region of the nervous system and create a number of problems such as headaches and vertigo in addition to high blood pressure.
(Adapted from Alternatives, vol.11,No.23)
Those who received the real adjustment had an average decrease of 17 points in their systolic blood pressure, and 10 points in their diastolic pressure. The decrease in blood pressure lasted for at least the 8 weeks of follow-up in the study. (J Hum Hypertens 07;(Mar 2):Epub ahead of print, PMID 17252032)
It was noted that patients who received an adjustment of the Atlas for other reasons had a spontaneous reduction in blood pressure as well. The effect is likely due to the fact that so many parts of the nervous system and cardiovascular system are packed together at that point in the neck. The Atlas is the uppermost vertebra just under your skull and through which your brainstem traverses. It is a uniquely shaped ring of bone that is held in place by soft tissue rather than interlocking like the rest of the vertebra. Misalignment of the Atlas can apply pressure to this delicate region of the nervous system and create a number of problems such as headaches and vertigo in addition to high blood pressure.
(Adapted from Alternatives, vol.11,No.23)