Blood pressure issues, when not prompltly addressed, lead to many health problems. There are many different ways to treat these problems. However, many people do not realize that chiropractic care is one efficient way to deal with them.
Let’s take a look at various blood pressure issues and risks and how chiropractic care can help.
What is High Blood Pressure?
If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension that means the force of the blood rushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high. When you visit the doctor and have your blood pressure taken, the doctor will give you the reading of a systolic number over a diastolic number. The systolic number indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against the walls of your artery each time your heart beats. The diastolic number indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while your heart is resting between beats.
An ideal blood pressure reading is 120/80. Typically, a systolic number (one on top) that is 120-129 over a diastolic number (one on bottom) less than 80 is considered elevated. When the top number is between 130-139 and the bottom number is 80-89, that is considered high. Anything above 140 on top and above 90 on the bottom is considered to be more serious and may require immediate medical attention.
Without frequent monitoring, you may not even know you have hypertension. That’s why it’s often referred to as the “silent killer”. Many people don’t realize they have this problem until it’s too late.
High Blood Pressure Risks
Hypertension is dangerous because it forces the heart and blood vessels to work harder and less efficiently. Over time, untreated high blood pressure damages the delicate tissues inside the arteries. This damage can lead to a host of serious health problems including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Vision loss
- Kidney disease & failure
These health problems can even lead to death. That’s why it’s crucial to know that you have hypertension, so it can be treated properly. Regular visits to the doctor can help monitor blood pressure. You can also buy a home kit that is easy to read to stay on top of your numbers.
What is Low Blood Pressure?
While much attention is given to hypertension and its risks, low blood pressure can be equally as dangerous. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is when your systolic number is less than 90 and your diastolic number is lower than 60.
Pregnant women, people with endocrine problems, those experiencing blood loss or infection may be more prone to low blood pressure.
Low Blood Pressure Risks
Many people with hypotension may experience fainting or dizziness. Other symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Dehydration
- Abnormally low heart rate
- Problems with heart valves
- Heart attack
Many doctors will not consider a condition to be hypotension if there is a single lower than normal reading. But if your reading is low and you have several of the symptoms associated with low blood pressure, you should consult your doctor.
How a chiropractor can help with blood pressure issues
While some people may turn to medication to treat hypertension, chiropractic care is a non-medicinal, effective way to treat the issue. A study showed that a special chiropractic adjustment can significantly lower high blood pressure. During the study, patients didn’t receive any medication, and instead underwent adjustment of the C-1 vertebra, the vertebra that holds up the head. Researchers have suggested that injury to this vertebra can affect blood flow to the arteries at the base of the skull.
Patients who had this adjustment during the study saw a drop in both their systolic and diastolic numbers compared to patients who did not receive the adjustment. Some, who were taking hypertension medication before the study, were even able to go off their medication completely after receiving chiropractic care. Researchers did not notice any side effects in patients who received the adjustment.
The possibility of relieving high blood pressure with chiropractic care in some patients who would rather not take medication is promising. Chiropractors have noticed that people with hypertension also often have issues with their neck muscles. This is also an issue that chiropractic care can address.
When you first visit a chiropractor, he or she will assess your health and pain and determine the appropriate course of treatment. They will then customize a treatment plan to fit your specific needs.
