Blood Pressure

The risks of high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, can be fatal. Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in the world while also being a direct result of high blood pressure. Medication is often prescribed to lower high blood pressure while more healthy forms of prevention and treatment like aerobic exercise, a nutritious diet, and avoidance of tobacco are sadly all to often overlooked.

Fortunately, a new study reveals that chiropractic care may be a new practical defense against the dangers of high blood pressure. The evidence is based on results taken from chiropractic adjustments to the thoracic spine with the assistance of instruments. The data shows that blood pressure was positively affected by these adjustments along with the pulse rate in comparison to groups receiving placebo treatment or no treatment at all.

The study was designed around 290 adults, some of whom had high blood pressure while others did not. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups divided into the following categories: active group, placebo group, and control group. For the active group, treatments took the form of instrument assisted spinal adjustments to the upper thoracic region of the spine. The placebo group received the exact same procedure for treatment but the instrument was set to not deliver any level of force at all. Finally, the control group was left just as they were with no treatment whatsoever. Both participants and researchers were unaware of which type of procedure (active or placebo) was being administered.

Results showed that baseline measurements of blood pressure experienced a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure after the manipulation of the thoracic spine with instruments. The amount of reduction averaged around 7 percent. These changes were only recorded in the active group, while the other two showed no signs of reduction in blood pressure.