Heart Brain Connection and The Chiropractic Approach
What is the heart brain connection and the chiropractic approach? Most of us have been taught in school that the heart is constantly responding to “orders” sent by the brain in the form of neural signals. However, it is not as commonly known that the heart actually sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart!
In fact, these heart signals have a significant effect on brain function—influencing emotional processing as well as higher cognitive faculties such as attention, perception, memory, and problem-solving. In other words, not only does the heart respond to the brain, but the brain continuously responds to the heart…
Remember, when you use the emWave and Inner Balance technologiesemWave and Inner Balance technologies, you are seeing your heart rhythm pattern in real time. HeartMath research has found that the emotions we experience directly affect our heart rhythm pattern—and this, in turn, tells us much about how our body is functioning. Remember my mantra, your health is about how well you eat, move, think, connect, and cope with stressors and 3 out of 5 of these pillars of dynamic health have to do with heart-brain interactions- don’t they?
The heart brain connection
This two-way communication system between the heart and brain is known as the heart-brain connection.
The heart-brain connection involves the nervous system (both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches) and the endocrine system (hormones). When we experience stress, for example, the heart rate and blood pressure increase and the body releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These physiological responses are part of the fight-or-flight response, which is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
On the other hand, when we are in a relaxed state, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, slowing down the heart rate and promoting relaxation. This is known as the rest-and-digest state.
The chiropractic approach to the heart-brain connection involves optimizing the function of the nervous system through spinal adjustments. When the spine is misaligned, it can interfere with the nervous system’s ability to send and receive signals between the brain and body. This can lead to a variety of health issues, including those related to the heart-brain connection.
By restoring proper alignment to the spine, chiropractors can improve nervous system function and facilitate communication between the heart and brain. This can lead to improved heart health, reduced stress, and overall better health and well-being.
In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractors may also recommend lifestyle changes such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress management techniques to support the heart-brain connection and promote optimal health.
