High Blood Pressure

Posted on Mar 15, 2017


High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high. It’d be like trying to force a whole lot of liquid through thin tubes quickly and forcefully– the tubes can’t handle that for a prolonged amount of time, right? Eventually, they burst!

Right now oxygenated blood is running through your body’s circulatory system. Your heart is beating, creating pressure that pushes blood through a network of vessels. High blood pressure puts stress on your heart and your blood vessels– they cannot work as well when this happens.

How do you get high blood pressure? Factors include your family history, as well as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and obesity.

What does high blood pressure often lead to? Well, it can cause strokes, heart attacks, heart failure or kidney disease. Not good, right?

For the record, if you get your blood pressure measured, it’s high if it’s greater than 140/90 for those under age 60 or greater than 150/90 for those over age 60.

In order to lower your blood pressure, you could take drugs, of which there are several. Many people have been put on beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and other medications. You can also take a more natural approach, by eating a healthier diet, losing weight, exercising more, quitting smoking/alcohol, and reducing the amount of sodium in your overall diet.

Chiropractors can help those with high blood pressure by offering adjustments. For example, an adjustment to the C-1 vertebra, which holds up the head, can work wonders for affecting blood flow in the arteries at the base of the skull. If this vertebra is misaligned, the arteries contract. That’s not good. So a chiropractor aligning this vertebra allows for blood to flow better throughout the arteries. Chiropractic care essentially takes away the stress on the body’s pathways so that blood flows at an appropriate pressure.

Need help managing your high blood pressure with the intent to lower it? Call Dr. Gerard’s chiropractic office in Forest Lake at 651-464-0800 to make an appointment today.

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Lakewoods Chiropractic
Lakewoods Chiropractic
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SALLY DETLEFSEN
SALLY DETLEFSEN
September 26, 2022.
I am amazed at how much better I feel since coming to Lakewoods. The doctors and staff are amazing.
Lukas Drayna
Lukas Drayna
September 21, 2022.
Great friendly staff. They focus on the target area’s to ensure your body is happy and healthy !
Michael F.
Michael F.
September 13, 2022.
Lakewoods Chiropractic is awesome. Friendly, welcoming, and professional Environment. They make you feel comfortable. Definitely recommend Lakewoods. I'm well on the road to recovery. Keep up the good work.
tone2403
tone2403
August 30, 2022.
Definitely recommend Lakewoods. When I went in I was in very rough shape. After a few weeks of adjustments I'm feeling better then ever. Great staff and very knowledgeable. They take the time to really make you understand the process.
Eric Russell
Eric Russell
August 25, 2022.
Jason and his staff are the best. Since my 1st visit, they always informed on your progress and had your health as #1 priority.
Angel L Colon Jr
Angel L Colon Jr
August 11, 2022.
Excellent service, friendly accommodating staff. Awesome family friendly services. Highly recommend!!!
Carrie Davis
Carrie Davis
August 3, 2022.
By far the best chiropractor I’ve ever used. They customize a plan just for you and don’t use a one size fits all approach. I wouldn’t recommend anyone else!! Thank you!!!
Justin W
Justin W
July 28, 2022.
Great place!
Jennifer Thelen
Jennifer Thelen
July 21, 2022.
I have been experiencing low back pain for at least 10 rememberable years and decided on a whim to try chiropractic care at Lakewoods. I had never been to a chiropractor before so I had no expectations that it would work or not but after just my first adjustment I had instant relief for the first time in 10 years. I have since been super impressed with how everything has been explained to me and how my care plan has been formed. The staff are all very kind and have been very helpful as well!