According to the Heart &™ Stroke Foundation, it’s estimated that 1.3 million Canadians are living with heart disease. Statistics Canada reported that more than 5 million Canadians age 12 and older were diagnosed with high blood pressure, which can contribute to heart disease. Getting to the root cause of what’s causing heart disease is critical when it comes to ensuring a healthier and potentially longer life.
Study Reveals Chiropractic’s Positive Impact
At our practice, addressing heart disease is more of a lifestyle issue and less about our body needing medications. The nerves that allow the heart to function come from the upper thoracic and lower cervical spine. One study at the University of Chicago was done with an MD and a chiropractor. It was a large study, and it showed that specific chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine (the Atlas which is a ball in the neck – the top one) can reduce blood pressure more than the top two blood pressure medications given in combination.
According to the study, the adjustment can reduce blood pressure by an average of 14 millimeters of mercury drop in the systolic (top number) blood pressure and an average of 8 millimeters of mercury drop in the diastolic (lower number) blood pressure. A natural chiropractic adjustment is an excellent alternative for those who don’t want to take medications and have to worry about side effects.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Testing
It’s also important to address lifestyle, which is something we do here at the clinic. We look at nutrition, exercise levels and body fat content. We also use a new state-of-the-art technology in the office called Heart Rate Variability (HRV) testing. This technology is a simple and accurate test that uses complex mathematical computations to analyze the rates and rhythms of the resting heart beat pattern.
That data from the HRV testing can be evaluated to reveal the intricate balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which governs the heart’s function. We will get a baseline testing when people first come in. Then we’ll test them periodically through their care to make sure they’re improving and getting better. We always look at the body as a whole. If a patient’s primary concern is blood pressure, we’ll focus on that as another area of improvement when we’re looking at their spine and nervous system.
If you’d like to lower your blood pressure naturally and potentially help prevent heart disease, contact us today to learn more!