The number of disorders, diseases, and injuries that chiropractic treatment can address, prevent and rehabilitate is astonishing.
Cardiovascular disease in particular is of special importance, considering the fact that it is the leading cause of death in this country.
That’s why we’ll explore the relationship between chiropractic care and cardiovascular health below, in order to raise awareness during National Heart Health Month.The Relationship Between Chiropractic Care, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. Several studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments have a positive impact on heart rate.
It is believed that back and neck pain elevates heart rate, and treating this pain through a chiropractor will alleviate the pain and accompanying stress, in turn lowering the abnormally high heart rate.
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeuticsalso shows a decrease in blood pressure and anxiety after chiropractic treatment.
Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk through Chiropractic Care
In order to prevent cardiovascular disease from deteriorating, you need to figure out what is causing, contributing to, or aggravating it.
One known contributor to heart disease is spinal misalignment (subluxation), which causes nerve interference and disrupts body function. Realigning the spine through chiropractic treatment should reverse neurological and structural interference, while reducing heart disease risk.
In fact, German Cardiologist W. Kunert promotes spinal examination for patients with cardiac pain, saying that “…lesions of the spinal column…are perfectly capable of simulating, accentuating or making a major contribution to organic diseases. There can…be no doubt that the state of the spinal column does have a bearing on the functional status of the internal organs.”
A recent study published in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Researchdescribes the case of a high-risk 54-year old man with a history of angioplasty and a heart attack, who was taking 10+ medications for high cholesterol.
After 6 months of regular chiropractic adjustments where he was treated for vertebral subluxations in his neck, sacrum, and pelvis, lab work showed a huge improvement in cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides levels, as well as improvements in his physical and mental health. It should be noted that there were no other treatments during this period e.g. dietary changes, exercise.
This is just one of many examples that shows that treating heart disease risk factors through chiropractic care can improve your overall cardiovascular health.
Rapid heart rates, high blood pressure, high anxiety levels, and subluxations, are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. By eliminating these risks through regular chiropractic adjustments, you can greatly improve your cardiovascular health.
Book your next chiropractic visit today and stay in control of your heart health.