AVOID THE HEART ATTACK HOLIDAY SEASON


Avoid the Heart Attack Holiday Season



The holiday season is not so merry for many who end up in the hospital or worse due to heart problems. An unfortunate stunning relationship occurs between the holiday season and heart attacks for both men and women. According to a study from the Journal of Circulation, “The number of cardiac deaths is higher on December 25 than on any other day of the year, second highest on December 26, and third highest on January 1.”


CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS HELP STRESS

 Chiropractic adjustments are proven to enable the body’s ability to deal with stress. A key indicator to lowering stress while improving health and longevity is an increase in heart rate variability.

 This study evaluated the effects of spinal adjustive care on autonomic function through the assessment of changes observed in the heart rate variability of nineteen healthy young adult subjects. 

THE STUDY

This study was designed to determine the acute effect of upper cervical spine manipulation on cardiac autonomic control as measured by heart rate variability.

 • 19 healthy, young adult subjects underwent cervical spinal adjustive care versus sham manipulation. Six minutes of electrocardiographic data were collected before and after each intervention, and heart rate variability was assessed.

 • Subjects were eliminated for these factors: hypertension, caffeine consumption within 4 hours, tobacco use within 48 hours, history of cardiovascular disease, neuropathic disorders, unexplained episodes of syncope, and any musculoskeletal signs/symptoms.
• Previous studies have shown that manual therapies can affect vagal function.  Cervical manipulation may have direct effects on the parasympathetic nervous system.

 • The suboccipital decompression used in this study caused “significant changes consistent with an enhanced parasympathetic control of heart rate.”

 • This study demonstrates that suboccipital manipulative decompression can affect heart rate variability. “This effect is consistent with potential changes in the control of heart by the parasympathetic nervous system.” • This data supports the hypothesis that upper cervical spinal adjustive care can affect measures of heart rate variability, and thus autonomic function, in healthy individuals.


OVERVIEW

It is well known that the holiday season brings increased amounts of stress. Extra financial stress from buying gifts, holiday travel, and increased consumption of sugar, salt, and alcohol affect virtually everyone. Though most people will not suffer heart attacks this holiday season, stress levels will be greater in December and early January compared to any other part of the year. The greatest season for stress occurs from mid-November to mid-January. With a heightened awareness and a few simple strategies, the effects of stress can be limited or avoided altogether this holiday season. Chiropractic spinal adjustments play a unique and important role in lowering the effects of stress in this hustling and bustling time.


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