Lower blood pressure could come with a few adjustments
By Dr. Scott Glocke
2007-04-17
Millions of Americans are diagnosed with high blood pressure but in most
cases the doctors arenıt able to identify the cause. But there may be hope.
According to a recent article in ³The Journal of Human Hypertension,² a
study was performed to compare specific upper neck chiropractic adjustments
and their effects on blood pressure.
The 50 participants were divided into two random groups for 8 weeks. One
group received a specific upper neck adjustment and the other group received
a placebo. Compared to the placebo group, the group that received the
adjustment saw an average of 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood
pressure (the top number) and an average of 8 mm Hg greater drop in the
diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).
According to Dr. George Bakris M.D., the director of the hypertension center
at the University of Chicago, ³this procedure has the effect of not one, but
two blood-pressure medications given in combination and it seems to be
adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems.
³When the statistician brought me the data, I actually did not believe it.
It was too good to be true.²
Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, an 84-year-old chiropractor, was the one who
performed the adjustments during the study. He practices a chiropractic
technique that specifically analyzes and adjusts the atlas (the first bone
in the neck). He took specific x-rays to determine the atlas position. After
making an adjustment he x-rayed again to confirm the correction was made.
According to Bakris, when the neck misaligns it can affect the blood flow in
the arteries at the base of the skull. According to WebMD, Dickholtz
believes that a misaligned atlas triggers release signals that make the
arteries contract.
Specific upper cervical chiropractic care is not a treatment for blood
pressure. Itıs designed to locate interference with the communication
super-highway between the brain and the body. When this communication is
interfered with, problems within the body can arise.
Chiropractors are the only profession trained to locate and correct
misalignments, called subluxations. When these misalignments are
specifically corrected they allow the body to function at its maximum health
potential. Chiropractors get to the reason why the blood pressure is high in
the first place.
cases the doctors arenıt able to identify the cause. But there may be hope.
According to a recent article in ³The Journal of Human Hypertension,² a
study was performed to compare specific upper neck chiropractic adjustments
and their effects on blood pressure.
The 50 participants were divided into two random groups for 8 weeks. One
group received a specific upper neck adjustment and the other group received
a placebo. Compared to the placebo group, the group that received the
adjustment saw an average of 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood
pressure (the top number) and an average of 8 mm Hg greater drop in the
diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).
According to Dr. George Bakris M.D., the director of the hypertension center
at the University of Chicago, ³this procedure has the effect of not one, but
two blood-pressure medications given in combination and it seems to be
adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems.
³When the statistician brought me the data, I actually did not believe it.
It was too good to be true.²
Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, an 84-year-old chiropractor, was the one who
performed the adjustments during the study. He practices a chiropractic
technique that specifically analyzes and adjusts the atlas (the first bone
in the neck). He took specific x-rays to determine the atlas position. After
making an adjustment he x-rayed again to confirm the correction was made.
According to Bakris, when the neck misaligns it can affect the blood flow in
the arteries at the base of the skull. According to WebMD, Dickholtz
believes that a misaligned atlas triggers release signals that make the
arteries contract.
Specific upper cervical chiropractic care is not a treatment for blood
pressure. Itıs designed to locate interference with the communication
super-highway between the brain and the body. When this communication is
interfered with, problems within the body can arise.
Chiropractors are the only profession trained to locate and correct
misalignments, called subluxations. When these misalignments are
specifically corrected they allow the body to function at its maximum health
potential. Chiropractors get to the reason why the blood pressure is high in
the first place.
Dr. Scott Glocke is the director of Back Cove Family Chiropractic in
Yarmouth. He has been a family wellness chiropractor for the past 6 years
and specializes in wellness for the entire family. Contact him at
drscott@backcovechiro.com.