Heart Health and Chiropractic Care
Sacramento CA Chiropractor Discusses Heart Health
It’s a great day at Barham Chiropractic!
Our patients are often surprised to find out that chiropractic care can indirectly help heart health.
Although there is not that much research directly studying chiropractic care’s effect on the heart, there are several studies that show how chiropractic care helps improve many of the risk factors that affect heart health.
In this short article, we wanted to address the 5 risk factors that Chiropractic health reduces.
1. Reduce Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the most common chronic medical problems people experience in Sacramento CA. Chronically high blood pressure can place stress on the arteries, veins, and chambers of the heart.
Studies regarding blood pressure and chiropractic care claim that “Results provide support for the hypothesis that blood pressure is reduced following chiropractic treatment“.
A thorough corrective care plan, like the ones we recommend at our Sacramento CA office, can help patients manage their blood pressure and lead to a reduced risk for heart disease.
2. Decrease Inflammation (This Helps Your Heart)
Inflamation is one of the most common risk factors associated with chronic cardiovascular issues.
A chiropractor can provide relief from inflammation by providing adjustments in areas that reduce stress on joints and increase blood flow. If you want a detailed explanation about how chiropractic care can help reduce inflammation read the article we wrote about it here.
By reducing inflammation throughout the body, people can reduce the risk of chronic cardiovascular issues developing.
3. Improve The Variability Of The Heart Rate
Studies show that chiropractic care may improve the variability of the heart rate (HRV). HRV is a measurement of the changes in time intervals between successive heartbeats and is an indicator of the health and adaptability of the cardiovascular system. A healthy HRV means that the heart is able to adjust to changing demands and stressors in the environment.
Chiropractic helps the heart adjust to changing demands by helping with heart rate variability.
This is very likely to help with heart health generally and very likely to help reduce the risk of heart issues.
4. Protect The Nerves Of The Heart
Chiropractic care helps strengthen the autonomic nervous system. This is the involuntary part of your nervous system that controls things like breathing and heart rate.
By improving the general health of the spine, Chiropractors can allow the nervous (which goes through the vertebrae) to send nervous signals with more ease.
5. Improve Lung Function
Heart and lung functions are related to one another. The lungs and the heart are tightly connected, and their functions are interdependent. Maintaining excellent heart health can benefit the lungs, and vice versa.
Similar to what we mentioned above, improving the health of the thoracic spine (upper and middle back).
The nerves that control the lungs and respiratory muscles originate in the thoracic spine, and any misalignments or subluxations in that area can interfere with proper nerve function and can lead to respiratory issues.
How Long Does It Take For Chiropractic Care To Help Heart Health?
There are too many factors that affect heart health to give a definitive answer here. However, we have had patients experience benefits regarding the 5 risk factors mentioned in this article as soon as their first visit. Chiropractic care is not meant to replace a holistic heart health plan, but it can certainly be a big help as supplementary heart healthcare.
Thanks For Reading Our Blog
As always, if you have any questions comments or concerns about the information here please give us a call during office hours at: (916) 542-6273 .
We celebrate your health success and hope we can earn the opportunity to be a part of your health journey.
Sources
McKnight ME, DeBoer KF. Preliminary study of blood pressure changes in normotensive subjects undergoing chiropractic care. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1988 Aug;11(4):261-6. PMID: 3171413.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3171413/
Yates RG, Lamping DL, Abram NL, Wright C. Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1988 Dec;11(6):484-8. PMID: 3075649.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3075649/
Zhang, John et al. “Effect of chiropractic care on heart rate variability and pain in a multisite clinical study.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 29,4 (2006): 267-74. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2006.03.010
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16690380/
Clinically reviewed by Steven Barham, D.C.
— Updated on March 16, 2023
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