High blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension—HTN) is a serious medical condition that occurs when the pressure in the arteries becomes chronically elevated. People afflicted with this condition are at a greater risk for developing life-threatening conditions like stroke, aneuyrism, kidney problems, and heart disease. Because of this, controlling hypertension is extremely important.
High blood pressure is typically classified as either primary or secondary. The majority of sufferers have the primary subtype, meaning there is no identifiable cause. Fewer people suffer with secondary hypertension; secondary high blood pressure means the condition has an identifiable cause (e.g., another disease or side effect from a medication). Unsurprisingly, hypertension can be mild, moderate, or even severe. It is often referred to as a silent killer because symptoms might not be present (therefore, people go untreated). When symptoms do exist, they usually include one or more of the following:
- Vertigo
- Back of the head ache or pain
- Ear disturbances
- Vision problems
- Syncope (fainting)
- Light-headed-ness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Weakness
Can natural therapies lower high blood pressure? Fortunately, the answer is “yes.” A diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and low sodium can improve hypertension in certain people. At the same time, twenty to thirty minutes of aerobic activity three to five times per week has shown to be beneficial.
What constitutes aerobic activity? Movements that raise the heart rate. For example, brisk walking, swimming, climbing, and bicycling are all considered aerobic activity. As with almost any type of exercise, it is important to begin gradually (warm up) and taper movement toward the end (cool down).
What does chiropractic care have to do with hypertension? Well, researchers at the University of Chicago conducted a study to find out if chiropractic care had any bearing on this condition. They separated high blood pressure patients in to two groups: one group received real chiropractic treatments, while the other had a sham therapy.
What did the researchers find? They discovered the authentic chiropractic group realized an impressive drop in blood pressure: adjustments to the C1 vertebrae seemed especially important. In fact, a noticeable improvement was realized after only one treatment! Conversely, the group receiving the sham adjustments showed barely any drop in pressure at all.
What does this suggest? It indicates that misalignments affect more than just the skeletal system. By better balancing the body through chiropractic treatments, additional systems, including the nervous system, benefit. Naturally, hypertension sufferers should not toss aside all medications, at least not at this point. Nonetheless, drugs have potentially harmful side effects; consequently, it makes sense to explore more natural measures.
Do you suffer with high blood pressure? Then contact Dr. Cao. Who knows, you might be less dependent on medication in no time.