By Dr. Ryan Lee
High blood pressure is an alarmingly common health concern today.
ONE-THIRD of the adult population, around 70 million Americans, have high blood pressure!
In addition, 1 in 3 Americans has prehypertension, or higher than normal blood pressure numbers.
Even more alarming: 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure DO NOT KNOW they have it, because typically there are no associated symptoms.
So, What Exactly is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
High blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is when your blood pressure, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high.
This pressure is the result of two forces:
The first force (systolic pressure) occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system.
The second force (diastolic pressure) is created as the heart rests between heart beats. (These two forces are each represented by numbers in a blood pressure reading.
Below is a chart detailing normal to crisis levels of blood pressure.
The Risks of High Blood Pressure.
The CDC states that with high blood pressure, there’s a great risk of other dangerous conditions:
- First heart attack: 70 percent of adults who have a first heart attack have high blood pressure
- First stroke: 80 percent of adults who have their first stroke have high blood pressure
- Chronic heart failure: 70 percent of adults with chronic heart failure have high blood pressure
- Kidney failure: High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure
Treating High Blood Pressure.
Fortunately, high blood pressure is treatable – and preventable!
Typical treatments for high blood pressure include medications, reducing stress, losing weight, avoiding alcohol, regular exercise, and lowering sodium intake.
But there’s a simple and holistic treatment you haven’t tried yet!
Chiropractic adjustments, specifically to the Atlas vertebrae, have been clinically proven to bring a significant decrease in blood pressure!
“This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination,” says study leader George Bakris, MD.
“And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems,” adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.
The procedure calls for adjustment of the C-1 vertebra. It’s called the Atlas vertebra because it holds up the head, just as the titan Atlas holds up the world in Greek mythology.
Chiropractic care works to realign the vertebrae of your spine, that when out-of-alignment are called “subluxations,” in order to restore proper blood flow and movement.
By fixing these subluxations, the connection between your brain and the affected nerve roots are restored, which can have a ripple affect on almost every organ of the body.
To learn more about how the health of your spine affects every organ in your body, click here!
If you’re ready to see what a difference chiropractic care can make for your health, click the link below to schedule your appointment and find out more, or give us a call!
Give us a call at (423)-498-3400
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can help you too!
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Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area specifically in Collegedale, TN, a short distance from Ooltewah, Cleveland, East Brainerd, East Ridge, Ringgold, Apison, and Harrison.
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Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here. *This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
