February is National Heart Health Month and most of us know the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and good sleep habits to prevent heart disease, but did you know that chiropractic adjustments are also an effective way to maintain heart health and fight heart disease?
Even if the nerves in your chest were not connected to your heart, your heart would still beat. This is because of the sinoatrial node that maintains your heart rate. Left on its own, the sinoatrial node would keep a constant, invariable rhythm, whether you were exercising or sleeping.
Thankfully there are nerves attached to your heart that regulate the pace of your heartbeat. In simple terms, the parasympathetic nerves tell your heart to slow down. These nerves originate from the brain and travel very close to the upper cervical vertebrae on their way to your heart. The sympathetic nerves tell your heart to speed up and they originate in the thoracic spine.
These nerves are part of your nervous system and it is through the nervous system that your body communicates with your brain about whether to increase or decrease your heart rhythm.
The nervous system is encased and protected by your spine. When your spine out of alignment it interferes with the effectiveness of your nervous system. These misalignments are called vertebral subluxations and Chiropractors adjust subluxations to align the spine and allow optimal function and flow of your nervous system.
When your spine is aligned, your nervous system is able to communicate freely and your body is able to innately heal itself. Chiropractic is an integral part of maintaining heart health.
Research at Palmer Chiropractic College has shown that regular chiropractic adjustments may prevent heart attacks, reduce heart rate, support the cardiovascular system and lower blood pressure. One of the studies at the College examined the effects of chiropractic treatments on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems found that chiropractic adjustments reduced participant’s mean heart rate.
These nerves that control your heart rate, also regulate your blood pressure. Therefore, Chiropractic adjustments can also lower your blood pressure. Studies have shown a significant improvement in blood pressure when the 1st vertebra, called the Atlas, is adjusted.
A study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension found that one upper cervical chiropractic adjustment has the same effect as two pills designed to normalize blood pressure.
Your nerves do not just go to your heart, they communicate with every organ in your body!
Get your spine adjusted today! Call us to book your adjustment! 905-845-2291
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