Nichols Chiropractic Provides Relief for Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects many Americans, especially as they age. Hypertension may have a number of different causes, but in all cases, these result in increased blood pressure, narrowed arteries, and other symptoms. At Nichols Chiropractic, our chiropractor in Manhattan KS, offers information on and solutions, like functional medicine, to the problem of hypertension.
Defining Hypertension
Your blood pressure normally varies over the course of the day. While “normal” blood pressure varies from one individual to another, consistent readings over 140/90 can signal problems. You may have no symptoms until your blood pressure is dangerously high. Primary hypertension, the most common kind, gradually occurs over a long period. Secondary hypertension results from problems like kidney disease, thyroid issues, sleep apnea, alcohol abuse, and medication side effects. Spinal misalignment may cause blood pressure issues. Risk factors for high blood pressure include age, genetics, family history, and weight.
Hypertension and the Spine
The nerves that control your body run off the spine. These nerves affect every organ, the creation and secretion of hormones, and many other biological functions. If your spine is out of alignment, pressure, irritation, and inflammation of the nerves can result in a wide variety of symptoms, including high blood pressure. For example, your kidneys contain special cells to measure blood pressure. The renal arteries adjust hormones, which is the renin, aldosterone and angiotensin hormones, to correct excessively high and low blood pressure. Spinal misalignment can cause changes in hormone secretion that cause increased blood pressure.
Chiropractic Care and Hypertension
Chiropractic treatment can help relieve chronic pain. Pain nearly always causes a rise in blood pressure and stress. Massages tend to relieve muscle tension as well as overall stress. There are two areas which have been implicated in hypertension, the uppermost cervical (neck) vertebrae and the upper thoracic vertebrae, typically T3 and T4. A misalignment in either of these areas can be corrected by our chiropractor and can bring your blood pressure down for at least eight weeks after treatment. This kind of care is known as functional medicine. Functional medicine improves your health through identifying and correcting the root cause of disease, as opposed to treating symptoms. Chiropractic care is drug-free and non-invasive.
If you are experiencing hypertension, our chiropractor can help you. Our chiropractor in Manhattan, KS may offer functional medicine as well as many other chiropractic treatments to relieve your pain and promote your overall health. Please contact Nichols Chiropractic today by calling (785) 537-2211.