If you’ve been told your blood pressure is too high, you’re not alone. Hypertension affects millions of Americans, and many people in Southaven and the greater DeSoto County area are quietly living with it. Most of the time, the conversation around high blood pressure stays focused on medications, diet, and exercise. Those things absolutely matter. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that rarely gets discussed — and it starts at the very top of your spine.
At Desoto Upper Cervical, Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer work with patients every day whose overall health — including blood pressure — has improved after addressing a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. Here’s what you should know.
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What Is High Blood Pressure, and Why Does It Matter?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, means the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, that excess pressure puts strain on your heart, arteries, kidneys, and brain. It’s often called the “silent killer” because most people feel completely normal — right up until something goes seriously wrong.
Common risk factors include stress, poor diet, inactivity, excess weight, and genetics. But here’s something that rarely makes it onto that list: a misalignment of the atlas vertebra — the very first bone in your neck.
The Atlas Vertebra and Blood Pressure: What Does the Research Say?
The atlas (C1) is the topmost vertebra in your cervical spine. It sits just beneath your skull and surrounds the brainstem — one of the most vital structures in your entire body. The brainstem controls heart rate, breathing, blood vessel tone, and a long list of other automatic functions that keep you alive without any conscious effort on your part.
When the atlas shifts out of its proper position — even slightly — it can place pressure on the brainstem and disrupt the signals that regulate blood pressure. This isn’t just theory. A landmark study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension in 2007 examined patients with early-stage hypertension who received an atlas adjustment versus those who received a sham (placebo) procedure. The results were striking. The group that received the real upper cervical correction experienced an average drop of 14 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 8 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure — comparable to taking two blood pressure medications simultaneously. The placebo group saw no significant change.
That’s meaningful data. And it points to something upper cervical chiropractors have understood for decades: when the atlas is properly aligned, the body’s self-regulating systems work better.
Why the Upper Cervical Spine Is Different From the Rest
Not all spinal misalignments are created equal. The upper cervical spine — specifically the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae — is in a class of its own for a few important reasons.
First, this region houses the brainstem. Second, the upper neck has a unique nerve supply and a dense concentration of mechanoreceptors — sensors that constantly communicate with your brain about your body’s position and internal environment. When those signals are distorted by a misalignment (called a subluxation), the downstream effects can show up in unexpected ways — including elevated blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, and more.
Third, the atlas doesn’t have a disc between it and the skull or between it and C2. That gives it incredible mobility, but it also makes it especially vulnerable to misalignment from trauma, falls, poor posture, sports injuries, or even birth stress.
How Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology Address the Problem
At Desoto Upper Cervical, Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer use two precision-based upper cervical techniques: Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology. Both are designed to correct atlas subluxations with a high degree of accuracy and virtually no manual force.
Atlas Orthogonal uses a percussive instrument that delivers a gentle, targeted sound-wave correction to the atlas without twisting or cracking the neck. Orthospinology is a similar precision-based approach grounded in the same structural analysis principles. Both techniques begin with detailed imaging — typically X-rays taken from specific angles — so the doctors can calculate the exact nature and direction of your misalignment before any correction is made.
This isn’t guesswork. It’s a calculated, measured correction tailored specifically to you.
If you’re curious about what a visit looks like from start to finish, you can learn more on our what to expect page.
What Upper Cervical Care Is — and Isn’t
It’s important to be clear here. Upper cervical chiropractic care is not a replacement for your prescribed blood pressure medications. If you’re currently on medication, please don’t stop taking it without talking to your prescribing physician. What upper cervical care does is address a structural cause of nervous system interference that may be contributing to your elevated readings.
Many patients find that as their atlas alignment holds, their overall health improves — and in some cases, in collaboration with their medical doctor, medication needs may change over time. The goal is better health from the inside out, not a quick fix.
Other Signs That an Atlas Misalignment May Be Affecting You
High blood pressure isn’t the only sign that the atlas might be out of position. People with upper cervical subluxations often report a combination of symptoms that can seem unrelated at first glance. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from new patients at Desoto Upper Cervical:
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or hands
- Difficulty sleeping
- Jaw pain or TMJ issues
- One shoulder or hip appearing higher than the other
If any of those sound familiar alongside elevated blood pressure readings, it may be worth having your upper cervical spine evaluated.
What to Expect at Desoto Upper Cervical in Southaven
Your first visit with Dr. Hall or Dr. Reistroffer begins with a thorough health history and consultation. From there, you’ll receive a structural analysis of your upper cervical spine, which typically includes precise X-rays. Once the doctors have analyzed your imaging, they’ll explain exactly what they found and what a correction plan looks like for you specifically.
One of the most common things new patients notice is that upper cervical adjustments feel almost anticlimactic — there’s no dramatic popping or cracking. The corrections are gentle, specific, and calculated. Yet the results patients experience over time are anything but anticlimactic.
Desoto Upper Cervical is located at 1134 Church Rd W, Southaven, MS 38671. You can reach the office by calling (662) 393-4848.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is upper cervical chiropractic care safe for people with high blood pressure?
Yes. Upper cervical techniques like Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology are among the gentlest approaches in all of chiropractic. There is no forceful manipulation of the neck. The corrections are precise and low-force, making them safe for a wide range of patients including those with cardiovascular concerns. As always, it’s a good idea to inform both your chiropractor and your medical doctor about all of the care you’re receiving.
How quickly might I notice changes in my blood pressure?
Every person is different. Some patients notice changes relatively quickly after their first corrections, while for others the improvement is more gradual as the body adapts to holding the alignment. The 2007 research noted significant changes over an eight-week period. Consistency with your care plan is important.
Do I have to stop my blood pressure medication to try upper cervical care?
Absolutely not. Upper cervical care is a complement to your existing healthcare, not a replacement. Any changes to your medication should only happen under the supervision of your prescribing physician.
What causes the atlas to misalign in the first place?
The atlas can shift out of proper position due to a wide variety of causes — car accidents, sports injuries, falls, birth trauma, repetitive postural stress, or even prolonged poor posture from device use. Sometimes patients can’t point to a single incident; the misalignment developed gradually over years.
Does Desoto Upper Cervical treat only blood pressure-related concerns?
Not at all. Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer see patients for a wide range of health concerns — from headaches and neck pain to vertigo, sciatica, disc problems, and more. The upper cervical spine sits at the foundation of the entire nervous system, so correcting subluxations there often has far-reaching effects throughout the body.
Take the First Step Toward Better Health in Southaven
If you’ve been managing high blood pressure and feel like you’re missing a piece of the puzzle, your upper cervical spine may be worth a closer look. Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer at Desoto Upper Cervical have helped countless patients in Southaven and the surrounding DeSoto County area restore proper atlas alignment — and reclaim a better quality of life in the process.
To schedule your consultation, call us at (662) 393-4848 or visit our website to learn more. We’re located at 1134 Church Rd W, Southaven, MS 38671 — and we’d love the opportunity to help you feel your best.
