Nowadays, there are more and more people suffering from hypertension.
After developing hypertension, following medical advice to take antihypertensive medication usually effectively lowers our blood pressure. In addition, we may also adopt some lifestyle adjustments, including weight loss, reducing salt intake, and maintaining emotional stability.
However, we may also notice a certain group of patients whose blood pressure is difficult to control regardless of adjustments and medication. Typically, they may also experience neck pain related to cervical spine conditions.
Can cervical spine disorders lead to hypertension? What are the characteristics of hypertension in such cases? Today, Dr. Xu will carefully explain this.
Poor control of cervical spine disorders can indeed lead to hypertension.
The regulation of our blood pressure is governed by various mechanisms within the body.
A crucial regulatory mechanism among them is our nervous system, particularly the autonomic nervous system. Once there is a cervical spine disorder, it is likely to compress the nerves that control blood pressure, causing our blood pressure to rise even without encountering danger or needing an elevation in blood pressure. We often experience symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, and headaches.
Hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders typically exhibits a characteristic pattern: once the cervical spine feels comfortable or experiences relief, the blood pressure naturally decreases. Conversely, if the cervical spine condition is severe, no amount of antihypertensive medication or lifestyle adjustments seem to effectively resolve it.
Therefore, hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders is a secondary condition. To address this hypertension issue, it is crucial to first resolve the cervical spine disorder.
How can we determine if our blood pressure is caused by cervical spine disorders?
Doctors say that this primarily depends on the high degree of synergy between the two, usually assessed through the following four points.
Firstly, blood pressure changes are closely related to the occurrence of cervical spine disorders.
This means that if recent exacerbation of your cervical spine disorder due to activities like working with your head down or maintaining improper posture, your blood pressure is likely to gradually go out of control.
Conversely, when you rest adequately, correct your posture, or use other treatment methods for cervical spine disorders to manage the condition, your blood pressure naturally decreases.
The second characteristic is the significant fluctuation in blood pressure.
For a normal hypertensive patient, although blood pressure may rise, their overall situation remains stable without dramatic fluctuations throughout the day.
However, hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders will exhibit drastic fluctuations corresponding to the comfort level of the cervical spine and the relief or exacerbation of the condition. If you experience such fluctuations accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, memory impairment, and other discomforts, you should be vigilant about cervical hypertension.
The third characteristic is the patient’s insensitivity to antihypertensive drugs.
While normal hypertensive patients promptly take antihypertensive medication when their blood pressure rises, including medications like calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and ACE inhibitors, these drugs usually do not have a significant effect on cervical hypertension.
The fourth point is the close correlation between the degree of hypertension exceeding the standard and the severity of cervical spine disorders.
Generally, the more severe the cervical spine disorder, the higher the blood pressure. Conversely, if the cervical spine disorder is relieved, the hypertension naturally decreases.
If you notice that your blood pressure exhibits the above four characteristics, it is advisable to promptly visit a hospital for examination to determine if the issue lies with cervical spine disorders. Doctors typically use X-rays or CT scans to confirm this diagnosis.
How should hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders be treated?
As mentioned earlier, the key to addressing hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders lies in treating the cervical spine disorder itself.
Doctors usually prescribe antihypertensive medication to keep your blood pressure within a safe range. Following this, the focus shifts to treating the cervical spine. Common methods include cervical traction and medications that alleviate nerve and vascular swelling, which can help alleviate hypertension caused by cervical spine disorders.
However, since both hypertension and cervical spine disorders are incurable conditions, patients with both conditions should be particularly careful in their daily lives.
This includes avoiding prolonged periods of looking down, swimming more, and using pillows of moderate height to prevent exacerbation of the conditions.
