When February rolls in each year, our thoughts often jump to love. Valentine’s Day conjures some of our earliest memories of love, from drawing shapes on red paper in kindergarten to a fluttering heart in anticipation of a first date.
Fast-forward to adulthood, and hearts still dominate the second month of the year. We continue to give our hearts away, but as we age, we focus on nurturing the hearts inside our bodies so that we can be there for our loved ones in the years to come.
Here are a few things to know during American Heart Month.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the United States with one in three people dying from complications each year. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of heart attacks and the most common reason for fatalities.
Prevention
A healthy lifestyle holds tremendous value in preventing heart disease, and there are many ways to become healthier. By making some or all the choices below, you can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check and lower the chances that you’ll experience heart problems.
- Smoking is harmful to your heart. Avoiding the habit is an excellent first step to a healthier lifestyle.
- Become physically active every day. Walk more and avoid the elevator by choosing the stairs.
- Reduce your weight, especially if you are living with obesity.
- Manage your stress. Practicing meditation or yoga can help to keep your thoughts calm.
- Limit your alcohol consumption. Avoid that second or third drink for better health.
Spinal Care
Did you know that spinal care also offers a pathway to fighting heart disease?
New studies are linking heart health to spinal care. The vertebrae that make up the spine house neural pathways that support almost every system in our body. If one path isn’t functioning correctly, the resulting imbalance may affect the health of other parts of our bodies, particularly the cardiovascular system.
One controlled study explored the connection between high blood pressure and the health of the spine. Participants had hypertension but refrained from taking medication beginning a month before the eight-week study. One group in the study received chiropractic manipulation, and the other group didn’t. The results at the end of the study revealed a significant reduction in blood pressure amongst participants who received the chiropractic manipulations.
Why Spinal Care Affects the Health of the Heart
An aligned spine encourages the body to balance its physiology naturally. When the neurological structures in the spine are in harmony, patients tend to experience improvements as these adjustments reduce nerve interference.
Spinal care may also impact a person experiencing heart palpitations. If the spine is out of alignment, it puts pressure on the body’s nerves, which in turn stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Stress is a significant cause of heart palpitations.
Chronic stress drives a lot of inflammation in the body, and too much inflammation speeds up the aging process, which raises your risk for heart disease.
Staying Healthy
We can’t control which genes we receive at birth or our predisposition to specific health issues. We can, however, make healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent health-related issues from becoming problematic.
If we throw away the cigarettes, avoid excess drinking, and start walking every day, we may add more years to our life. The fresh air that we inhale as we walk will reduce stress, help lower our blood pressure, and encourage us to maintain a healthy weight.
Thanks to modern research, we have an additional tool to stay healthy: when you visit us to align your spine, you can help reduce inflammation throughout your system and decrease the stress hormones released into your body.
You’ve got years ahead to give your heart to the ones you love. Let us be your partner in keeping your heart healthy.