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Healthy Heart is Not Just Diet and Exercise

There is an obvious connection between the autonomic system and the function of the heart. Autonomic nerves from the spine are responsible for heart muscle contraction, heart rate and blood pressure regulation.  Chiropractors have always pointed out the connection to heart health and spinal function.  Even with the obvious connection to the function of the heart and the nervous system, I would always get a strange look or two when explaining to people the relationship to heart disease and spinal misalignment with nerve dysfunction.  Now, new research is exclaiming that most heart disease resulting in heart attacks is less related to diet and more related to dysfunction in the electrical impulses to the heart from the parasympathetic (autonomic) nervous system.  This is exciting news for chiropractic, as maintaining normal spinal function in the thoracic (upper back) area may be another tool people can use, in addition to diet, exercise and stress management to help keep their heart healthy.

As far as sports performance goes, the implications for improving nerve impulses to the heart (and lungs) are immense. Greater blood flow, oxygen uptake and increased aerobic capacity during a game is an extra bonus for any well trained competitive athlete.

Autonomic nerves from the upper neck control blood pressure. Misalignments in the cervical area can be a contributing factor to high blood press. Adjusting the spine will cause a drop in blood pressure. This is important for people who suffer from hypertension as well as pregnancy related blood pressure issues.

Author
Dr J. Zimmerman, Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman is a practicing chiropractor from Galloway, NJ with 30 years of chiropractic practice.

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