A Visit To The Chiropractor May Help Lower Blood Pressure

More than 64 million people in the United States have high blood pressure. A recent report reveals that at least half of those people have it under control, which is a huge improvement over the 27 percent who had it controlled 20 years ago. Various medications, a healthy diet and regular exercise are attributed with helping to control blood pressure. Now, a new study reveals that chiropractic care can help reduce blood pressure as well.

Blood pressure specialist Dr. George Bakris decided to conduct a study into this innovative idea. He asked patients who had high blood pressure to visit a chiropractor and have an adjustment to the neck. The theory being the misalignment may be putting pressure on a nerve that helps control the function of the heart. Chiropractor Dr. Peter Martone has been treating patients with this aligning technique and has been able to help them successfully reduce their blood pressure. Dr. Bakris noted the patients who received the chiropractic care did respond well to the treatment. However, those patients were still taking medication to control their blood pressure.

The government has decided to pursue this method further. The National Institutes of Health will be funding a larger study to determine if the chiropractic treatment will help others.  Dr. Bakris cautions that this treatment method will most likely only work in those who have suffered some kind of neck trauma in their lifetime. Those who are predisposed to high blood pressure through genetics will probably not benefit from this treatment.