Most people think of chiropractic care as a treatment for back pain, neck pain, and headaches. While it’s true that chiropractors are highly skilled at addressing these common issues, the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care extend far beyond just relieving pain. Regular chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments in the upper cervical spine can actually lead to dramatic improvements in your overall health, wellness, and quality of life. Here are five surprising ways upper cervical chiropractic care can boost your well-being that you may not be aware of:
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1. Strengthens Your Immune System
Did you know that upper cervical chiropractic adjustments can give your immune system a major boost? The health of your immune system and nervous system are closely intertwined. In fact, many experts now refer to them as a single entity – the neuroimmune system. Your nervous system acts as the master control system of your body, regulating and coordinating all the functions of your organs, tissues and cells – including your immune response. So how exactly does your upper cervical spinal health affect your susceptibility to illness and disease?
Your upper cervical spine, consisting of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae, is the most critical area of your spine when it comes to the function of your nervous system. This delicate region houses the brainstem, which is responsible for controlling all the vital functions of your body. When misalignments (subluxations) occur in the C1 or C2 vertebrae, it can put pressure on the brainstem and spinal nerves, disrupting the vital brain-body communication required for a highly functioning immune system. With compromised neuroimmunity, your body’s defenses can’t work at their optimal level to identify pathogens and mount an effective immune response against them. This leaves you more vulnerable to infections, allergies, autoimmune disorders and disease.
The good news is that specific upper cervical chiropractic adjustments, like those performed at Desoto Upper Cervical using the Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology techniques, can correct these misalignments and relieve pressure on the brainstem and spinal nerves. This restores the critical signaling between your brain and immune system, allowing them to coordinate and work effectively together once again. Many patients report getting sick less often after starting upper cervical care. Regular adjustments have been shown to boost levels of disease-fighting antibodies and white blood cells in the body. If you want to avoid catching every cold, flu and stomach bug that goes around, keeping your neuroimmune system finely tuned with upper cervical chiropractic should be a key part of your wellness routine.
2. Improves Digestive Function
If you suffer from chronic digestive issues like bloating, gas, constipation, acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome, upper cervical chiropractic care could offer significant relief. You may be surprised to learn that the root cause of many digestive problems is often found in the upper cervical spine. The nerves that control and coordinate the function of your entire digestive system, from the esophagus to the stomach, gallbladder, liver, small intestine and colon, originate in the brainstem and exit the spinal cord through the C1 and C2 vertebrae.
When upper cervical subluxations put pressure on these nerves, it can disrupt the normal function of your digestive organs, leading to symptoms like bloating, nausea, heartburn and irregular bowel movements. Over time, this nerve interference can lead to chronic problems like leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and difficulty absorbing nutrients from your food.
The good news is that the specific upper cervical chiropractic techniques used by Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer at Desoto Upper Cervical, like Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology, can precisely identify and correct misalignments at the top of the spine. These gentle adjustments can relieve irritation on the nerves supplying your digestive tract, allowing it to function optimally again and often leading to dramatic improvements in symptoms. While upper cervical care is not a treatment for any specific digestive disease or condition, it’s an excellent way to support the proper functioning of your digestive system as a whole. If you’ve tried changing your diet, taking supplements and medications for your chronic digestive problems without success, upper cervical chiropractic is definitely worth adding to your treatment plan. You may be amazed at the changes that can happen when your spine and nervous system are communicating properly!
3. Reduces Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest threats to your long-term health and wellness. It’s a silent killer that contributes to 7 out of the 10 leading causes of death. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, and some cancers have all been linked to the damaging effects of long-term inflammation in the body. It can also cause pain, stiffness and loss of function in your muscles and joints.
While acute inflammation is a necessary part of your body’s healing response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation is not. Laboratory studies have found that specific upper cervical chiropractic adjustments, like those used at Desoto Upper Cervical, reduce blood levels of inflammatory markers like CRP (C-reactive protein) and interleukin-6. Upper cervical care has also been shown to enhance the activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body. By lowering pro-inflammatory substances and increasing anti-inflammatory ones, upper cervical chiropractic helps reduce chronic inflammation at a systemic level.
Why does adjusting the upper cervical spine have this powerful anti-inflammatory effect? It goes back to the direct link between your nervous system and immune system. Inflammatory markers like CRP are regulated through the vagus nerve, which originates in the brainstem. Upper cervical subluxations can irritate the vagus nerve, triggering an inflammatory response. Specific upper cervical adjustments stimulate the vagus nerve in a way that activates the parasympathetic nervous system, inducing a relaxing, anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Getting adjusted regularly at Desoto Upper Cervical can keep inflammation under control, reducing your risk of many serious illnesses and chronic diseases. It’s a perfect complement to an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle. If you’re looking for a natural way to prevent inflammatory damage and keep your body healthy, getting your upper cervical spine checked by Dr. Hall or Dr. Reistroffer is a great place to start.
4. Lowers Blood Pressure
Around one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, putting them at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and other serious health problems. While medication is often necessary to manage hypertension, research shows that upper cervical chiropractic care can be a highly effective drug-free treatment option. By addressing misalignments in the upper cervical spine and related nervous system dysfunction, specific chiropractic adjustments can help regulate blood pressure naturally.
A landmark study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago Hypertension Center found that a specific type of chiropractic adjustment to the Atlas (C1) vertebra had the effect of lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension. The improvement in blood pressure from this single adjustment was equivalent to taking two blood pressure medications at once. This study was so impressive that it was published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, and its authors recommended that Atlas adjustments be part of the initial treatment plan for all patients with high blood pressure.
How exactly does adjusting the upper cervical spine lower blood pressure? Researchers believe it’s related to the Atlas vertebra’s close proximity to the brainstem, which controls all the muscles of the body. Subluxation (misalignment) of the Atlas vertebra can disrupt signals from the brainstem to the muscles that control the tension in your blood vessels. This can cause the blood vessels to tighten, increasing your blood pressure. Precise Atlas adjustments, like those performed by the doctors at Desoto Upper Cervical, correct this nerve interference, allowing your body to relax your blood vessels and normalize your blood pressure. Other research studies have also found that adjustments to the upper cervical spine can significantly lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. If you have hypertension, getting your upper cervical spine checked regularly at Desoto Upper Cervical could be an important part of your treatment plan, potentially even reducing your need for medication. However, you should never stop taking prescribed blood pressure medication without consulting your doctor first.
5. Promotes Better Balance
Upper cervical chiropractic care can even help prevent dangerous trips and falls as you get older. Every year, millions of older Americans experience a fall. In fact, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in adults over 65. They often result in head trauma, hip fractures, and other broken bones. Recovery from these injuries can take months or even years, leading to a loss of independence and mobility. Preventing falls is crucial to maintaining a high quality of life as you age.
Research shows that older adults who receive regular chiropractic care, especially upper cervical care, have better balance, coordination and stability than those who don’t. One reason for this is that our sense of balance and spatial awareness originates in the receptors of the joints and muscles in the neck (upper cervical spine). If the atlas (C1) or axis (C2) vertebrae are even slightly misaligned, it can disrupt the input from these receptors to the brainstem and cerebellum, the balance centers of the brain. This leads to a lack of coordination and increases your risk of falling. Upper cervical chiropractors like Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer are specifically trained to identify and correct these misalignments using precise adjusting techniques like Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology.
In addition to improving your balance and spatial awareness, upper cervical chiropractic adjustments keep your neck flexible and ensure the joints are moving correctly. Lack of flexibility in the cervical spine and arthritis in the neck can impair your ability to keep your head upright and catch yourself if you start to fall. Getting adjusted regularly at Desoto Upper Cervical keeps your head on straight and your body nimble so you can more easily regain your balance and prevent a serious tumble. Studies have found that chiropractic patients have faster reaction times, greater muscle strength, better joint position sense, and more flexible ligaments in their necks than non-chiropractic patients. By helping your body stay balanced, aligned and flexible, regular upper cervical chiropractic care can significantly reduce your risk of a dangerous fall and prolong your independence as you age. It’s a key component of healthy aging, allowing you to stay active and do the things you love without fear of falling.
Do any of these “hidden” benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care resonate with you? Just imagine how much your health and quality of life could improve by tapping into the body’s own powerful healing ability. Even if you don’t have pain or obvious symptoms, upper cervical chiropractic adjustments are one of the best things you can do to stay healthy, fight off disease, and age more gracefully.
At Desoto Upper Cervical, the premier upper cervical chiropractic clinic in Southaven, MS, Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer are ready to help you achieve optimal health and well-being. Using cutting-edge Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology techniques, they provide precise, gentle adjustments to correct misalignments at the top of the spine and restore proper communication between your brain and body. Experience the difference that upper cervical care can make! Call the office at (662) 393-4848 today to schedule your appointment and start unlocking the amazing benefits of this unique type of chiropractic care. Your body will thank you!
Desoto Upper Cervical is located at 1134 Church Rd W, Southaven, MS, 38671.
