“Those who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to have developed heart disease, diabetes, or another chronic disease than those who sat less than four hours a day.”   –International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2013

“Sitting is responsible for 170,000 cases of cancer every year.”   -American Journal of Epidemiology

“Sitting is the New Smoking.”   –Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(2):123-132.

Exhibiting good posture pleases the eyes and speaks volumes about a person’s attention to detail. Good posture stands out so dominantly today because of the rarity with which people concern themselves with this important aspect of total body health. Increased amounts of time on phones and computers for males and females of all ages play a huge role in the poor posture epidemic.

Centuries of mothers and grandmothers collectively cringe at the visual landscape of poor posture roaming through society. Family matriarchs often demand better posture due to the poor appearance of slouching and hunching but the true effects of poor posture impact overall health and well-being more than appearances. One study determined that people who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic diseases than people who sat less than four hours a day.

Another study concluded that slumped forward shoulder posture specifically associates with an increased rate of death due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis impacts the arteries characterized by the deposit of plaques on the inner walls of the vessels. These important findings illuminate the value of good posture habits and measures. The threat of a back or neck pain problem represents only a portion of the health risks involved with bad posture. The majority of negative health outcomes associated with poor posture involve internal issues related to organs and systems, such as increased death rates due to atherosclerosis.

Everyone body functions better with optimal posture yet most people experience a deterioration of good posture at varying degrees. The majority of people only focus on posture as it pertains to cosmetics and appearances, unaware of the negatively influence impacting organ function.

Regular Chiropractic adjustments help change the spine and posture as it relates to function, and better education serves to share the postural benefits Chiropractic care offers every member of the family. Every Chiropractic technique helps improve posture by correcting areas of spinal stress called subluxations.

Other keys to improving posture include:

1) Make simple changes to the home or work station which ensures good posture and spinal support when sitting in front of a computer.

2) Watch less TV.

3) Take 2 brief walks per day – studies show that more frequent brief walks provide better benefits than one longer walk. (Set a reminder to take 2-3 brief walks per day).

4) Maintain regular Chiropractic visits to ensure better alignment and nervous system balance.

5) Drink more water throughout the day to lubricate the body’s discs and joints while forcing more movement with regular trips to the bathroom.

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The spine shares an intimate connection with the entire body through a direct relationship with the brain and central nervous system. The spine contributes to many aspects of health and human performance but requires proper positioning, alignment, and freedom of movement. Movement of each spinal vertebra ensures good input into the brain. The health of the heart and other organs depends upon good input into the brain through movement in the spine.

Chiropractic plays a significant role in heart health. When the spine does not move appropriately, stress builds up in the nervous system which directly influences blood hormones and heart health. Spinal adjustments ensure a well-functioning spine operates without misalignment. Gentle movement which aligns the bones of the spine improves alignment and allow movement that lowers stress and improves optimal function in the organs.

February is heart health month. Heart disease continues to rank in the top three causes of death year after year. Heart hospitals and cardiologists get busier every year with no end in sight. Many unhealthy lifestyle factors play a role in the decline of heart health over the past three decades.

Heart disease statistics of note include:

 Someone experiences a heart disease-related event ever 34 seconds

 Approximately 787,650 Americans die from heart disease each year (1 in 3 deaths)

 An average of 2,150 Americans die from heart disease each day (1 death every 30 seconds)

 Approximately 68% of people with diabetes will die from heart disease or stroke.

Diet, exercise, and a positive mindset play critical roles in heart health. Research evidence also proves that taking care of the spine also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy heart. Heart rate variability (HRV) specific measures heart health. HRV measures changes in time intervals between successive heartbeats. HRV operates under the direct control of the autonomic (automatic and subconscious) nervous system. A balanced HRV proves critical for heart health, organ control, and health optimization. Imbalanced, or lowered HRV links to heart disease, immune challenges, cancer, and virtually every chronic disease. Improving HRV significantly affects heart health, overall health, and longevity.

Studies showed that spinal adjustments to the upper neck region influence the measurement of heart rate variability. Spinal adjustments to the upper neck stimulate a part of the nervous system responsible for balancing heart rhythm, normalizing blood pressure, and improving blood vessel control. Evidence proves that the benefits of chiropractic care extend far beyond back and neck pain. Better heart health represents one of many major functional improvements which go hand in hand with investing in Chiropractic care.

The post February is HEART HEALTH Month – Chiropractic has been Helping Hearts for 124 Years! first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.