According to the Center for Disease Control, high blood pressure is a condition that affects over 68 million Americans; roughly 1 in 3 people. It is a high risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. It is also responsible for about $131 Billion annually just for treatment related costs.

High blood pressure is usually treated by a variety of drug types ranging from diuretics (chlorthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide), Beta-blockers (metoprolol), and ACE inhibitors (lisinopril) being the most common types. This is usually prescribed with lifestyle changes that highlight the importance of low sodium an low fat diets in conjunction with a fitness regimen.

At Keystone Chiropractic, we have found that blood pressure can often times be a result of a structural abnormality. Research published in a 2007 study in the Journal of Human Hypertension found that structural correction of the atlas (Atlas displacement complex or ADC) led to a reduction in blood pressure by an average of 17 points. That’s roughly the equivalent of 2 blood pressure medications.

When the head and neck shift and lock out of place (ADC), the structural lock will compromise the blood flow to the brain and affect the parts of the nervous system that regulate blood pressure. When the brain perceives that blood flow has reduced, then the compensating result is often an increase in blood pressure.

Although high blood pressure is the most common finding, low blood pressure is also a phenomenon that is caused by ADC.

The goal at Keystone Chiropractic is not to arbitrarily change blood pressure. Keystone Chiropractic’s focus is to correct the primary condition of ADC, and allow the body regulate blood pressure normally. By restoring the normal structure of the spine, the nervous system will naturally return to homeostasis.