What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure refers to the pressure that blood places on the walls of blood vessels whilst being pumped around the body. Easily measured at your local doctor’s office, blood pressure is recorded with two numbers; the first is the systolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries when blood is pushed out of the heart) and the second is the diastolic pressure (the pressure between each heartbeat).
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can be a symptom of another underlying health condition or an issue in its own right. Affecting approximately 1 in 3 adults across the U.S, high blood pressure is typically treated with medication. While effective, high blood pressure medication doesn’t address the root cause of the problem and often comes with some unpleasant side effects.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
For those suffering from high blood pressure, some of the most commonly reported symptoms are headaches, dizzy spells, visual changes or impairments, chest pain, blood in urine, and shortness of breath.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Effects High Blood Pressure
The upper cervical spine plays a key role in protecting and supporting the brainstem, which itself acts as a major conduit for nerve signals from the central nervous system (CNS). One of the many responsibilities of the CNS is sending out electrical signals around the body to stimulate our arteries to contract or expand. In this way, the CNS regulates our blood pressure.
If a patient suffers trauma or other impact injuries to the upper cervical spine, misaligned vertebrae can place pressure on the brainstem and CNS. In turn, this pressure can result in disrupted nerve signals or misfiring that interrupts the contracting or expanding of the arteriole walls. If the arteries are suddenly instructed to contract due to a misfired signal, it can increase blood pressure.
How Our Blood Pressure Treatment Works
If you’d like to get to the root cause of your high blood pressure, consider speaking with our upper cervical chiropractic specialist, Dr. Bello. Before treatment begins, Dr. Bello will perform an initial assessment to determine whether there is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine that could be causing your high blood pressure. This assessment will usually require the use of non-invasive diagnostic tools like X-rays or cone-beam computed tomography scans.
If a misalignment is identified, Dr. Bello will employ a series of gentle corrections to realign the vertebra to its natural position. This should relieve any pressure that may have been on the brainstem and eliminate any dysfunction in the CNS. Don’t worry, this process is completely painless and doesn’t involve any harsh cracking, pulling, or twisting of the spine.
If you’re looking for an alternative and natural treatment for high blood pressure, Dr. Bello is here to help. He offers upper cervical chiropractic care to patients in Culver City, West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Marina Del Rey, and the surrounding areas.