4 Heart Health Hints #3

When a group of children is asked to name an organ of the body, the heart is typically one of the first to come to mind. That’s because we learn its importance at a very young age. The heart is a power-house pump that pushes blood throughout the body and back again. The heart is a well-oiled machine…until it isn’t; then a devastating reality becomes apparent – the heart is only as strong as we make it.

So what can we do to keep our heart strong, healthy, and pumping? I have 4 Heart Health Hints to get your blood flowing (and keep it that way!)

# 3  Improve Your Nerve Function

Blood pressure is one easy to measure indicator of heart health. High blood pressure can be indicative of a heart that is not functioning at its best; working hard, but not efficiently to pump blood throughout the body. Low blood pressure can also be a red flag that your heart is not pumping blood as it was designed to. If your blood pressure lows when you move from a sitting to standing position, this could be an indicator of a heart health challenge.

When an organ is not function at its best, the answer may be that it is simply suffering from a lack of communication between it and the body’s control center (the brain). Typically, it’s not the brain giving the organ the cold shoulder, but the lack of clear communication is due to an interference that is blocking the signal.

Chiropractic adjustments are designed to remove that type of interference (what chiropractors call subluxations) to allow the proper flow of information to and from the brain and other part of the body. That’s why individuals with high blood pressure see their numbers improve with chiropractic care.

A very interesting study was conducted on 50 patients with early-stage high blood pressure at The University of Chicago Hypertension Center testing the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments on lowering blood pressure. 25 patients underwent 8 week of chiropractic adjustments while the remaining 25 received 8 weeks of placebo adjustments. None of the patients took medication during the 8 weeks.

Compared to the placebo group, those who received true chiropractic adjustments saw an average of 14 mmHg greater drop in systolic blood pressure and 8mmHg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure. George Bakris M.D, the director and study leader said that "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination and it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems."

Pre and Post x-rays were taken in this study. The pre adjustment x-rays showed that the atlas (or top bone of the spine) was misaligned (subluxated). Even the smallest misalignment to the atlas puts pressure on the brainstem, which boasts control of the cardiovascular system as one in a long list of duties. The post adjustment x-rays for those individuals showed that the atlas was re-aligned and the pressure on the brainstem released.

This study mirrors what I see every day in the office. When we remove subluxations, the result is a better functioning nervous system. When our nervous systems are functioning at their best, the systems of our bodies heal and function at their best. That includes the cardiovascular system and the heart. You can’t get much simpler than that.
This blog maybe be reproduced in part or in its entirety in print or online with specific permission from Dr. Dan Turo.
Please contact our office directly at 412-369-0400 or info@turofamilychiropractic.com for details.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter. 

4 Heart Health Hints #2

When a group of children is asked to name an organ of the body, the heart is typically one of the first to come to mind. That’s because we learn its importance at a very young age. The heart is a power-house pump that pushes blood throughout the body and back again. The heart is a well-oiled machine…until it isn’t; then a devastating reality becomes apparent – the heart is only as strong as we make it.

So what can we do to keep our heart strong, healthy, and pumping? I have 4 Heart Health Hints to get your blood flowing (and keep it that way!)

  #2 Just Say No to Sugar and Grains

Removing sugar and grains from your diet is a great way to improve overall health. Among other offenses, grains and sugars cause an increase in inflammation, promote allergic response, and raise insulin levels. An elevated insulin level leads to insulin resistance, which cascades into many other health challenges – one of which is elevated blood pressure.

How are insulin resistance and blood pressure related? Insulin stores magnesium. When cells are resistance to insulin, they also reject the magnesium that comes with it, so it passes out of your body through urination. Magnesium relaxes muscles. Low levels of stored magnesium cause blood vessels to constrict rather than relax, raising your blood pressure.

Insulin also causes your body to retain sodium. How does this affect your blood pressure? Sodium retention causes fluid retention. Fluid retention is another cause of high blood pressure. Fluid retention can also lead to congestive heart failure.

One of the many ways that sugar hurts the body is by depleting it of B vitamins. B vitamins are necessary for proper heart function. Having low levels of B vitamins increases inflammation in your body and makes you more susceptible to infection and injury. You can increase your B vitamins through a quality nutritional supplement, or through a well-rounded diet including leafy green vegetables, nuts, and beans.

Eating sugars and grains -- including any type of bread, pasta, corn, potatoes, or rice -- will cause your insulin levels and your blood pressure to remain elevated. Removing these things from your everyday diet will help to regulate both your insulin levels and blood pressure. Eliminating them completely will produce the best change, but even just reducing your consumption may make a noticeable difference.

If your high blood pressure is a complication of insulin resistance, then controlling your blood sugar levels will, in turn, help to lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. If it isn’t, eliminating grains and sugar is still a smart move that will ultimately improve your overall health. No negative side effects!

Check in later this week for more tips on how to help your heart!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.
This blog maybe be reproduced in part or in its entirety in print or online with specific permission from Dr. Dan Turo.
Please contact our office directly at 412-369-0400 or info@turofamilychiropractic.com for details.

4 Heart Health Hints #1

When a group of children is asked to name an organ of the body, the heart is typically one of the first to come to mind. That’s because we learn its importance at a very young age. The heart is a power-house pump that pushes blood throughout the body and back again. The heart is a well-oiled machine…until it isn’t; then a devastating reality becomes apparent – the heart is only as strong as we make it.

So what can we do to keep our heart strong, healthy, and pumping? I have 4 Heart Health Hints to get your blood flowing (and keep it that way!)

#1: Normalize Your Omega 3: Omega 6 Ratio 

Both omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential for your health. But, as in all things, balance is key.

Most Americans get too much omega-6 in their diets. Omega-6 essential fatty acids are found in corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oils. Any this list is found in anything processed, packaged or fried.  Because there is no shortage of these oils in the average diet, you should make an effort to limit your intake of products that boast these ingredients in construct or preparation.

On the flip side, most Americans do not consume enough Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3s are present in flaxseed, some nuts, and fish.  Because it is often difficult get enough Omega-3 in your general diet, taking a high quality fish oil supplement is a great option that many people choose. (It is important to know the quality and type of fish that your fish oil is made from. Consult your trusted health care practitioner if you are unsure of where to find the right supplement for you and your family).

Consuming omega-3 fats is one of the best ways to re-sensitize your insulin receptors, which will help to keep your insulin levels under control and, in turn, your blood pressure.

Check in next week for Hint #2 and more about ways to keep your heart going strong!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.
 
This blog maybe be reproduced in part or in its entirety in print or online with specific permission from Dr. Dan Turo. Please contact our office directly at 412-369-0400 or info@turofamilychiropractic.com for details.