High Blood Pressure: The Case for Chiropractic Care
The American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) recently unveiled their 2025 hypertension guidelines, building on the 2017 version with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention. Released on August 14, 2025, these guidelines aim to curb cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk through lifestyle tweaks, risk-based assessments, and aggressive blood pressure (BP) targets. But amid the praise, whispers of overtreatment and pharmaceutical industry sway grow louder, especially when promising non-drug alternatives, like chiropractic adjustments, remain conspicuously absent.
Overlooked Alternatives: The Case for Chiropractic Care
Amid the pill-pushing, one glaring omission is non-invasive therapies like chiropractic adjustments. A 2007 pilot trial of 50 stage 1 hypertensives with misaligned Atlas (C-1) vertebrae showed striking results. Half received a specialized upper cervical chiropractic adjustment while the other half underwent a sham procedure. After eight weeks, the real adjustment group saw systolic BP drop by 17 mm Hg and diastolic by 10 mm Hg, effects rivaling two BP drugs combined, with no side effects.
The study suggested that realigning the Atlas could ease nerve pressure, normalizing BP signals to the brain. ABC News called it a potential game-changer for millions of Americans with hypertension. Subsequent research reinforced that upper neck corrections can sustainably lower BP.
CLICK HERE for more on the Bakris study
Yet, scan the 2025 guidelines and there is no mention of chiropractic. The likely reason is that pharmaceutical funding drives much of the research and advocacy behind AHA/ACC documents, sidelining low-cost, non-patentable options that threaten sales. Chiropractic, being hands-on and drug-free, does not fit the lucrative model. As one critic put it, if a pill achieved what that adjustment did, it would be blockbuster news, but adjustments do not line pockets.
“The decrease was equal to taking two blood–pressure drugs at once.” — University of Chicago Medicine on the Bakris-Dickholtz Study
Wrapping Up: Balance or Bias?
Ignoring evidence-based alternatives like chiropractic underscores a system skewed toward profits over patients. Until guidelines embrace all tools, from adjustments to lifestyle, true prevention remains elusive.
To check the alignment of your Atlas (C-1) vertebrae, schedule a checkup with our Great Life Chiropractic Experts Drs. Gus and Jacqueline below. Let us help you and your family experience the potential of upper cervical corrective chiropractic care!
