A persistent increase in blood pressure today quite often occurs against the background of pathological changes in the cervical vertebrae, leading to ossification of their soft components. Displaced elements of the spine often compress the blood channels leading to the brain. And this, in turn, leads to a deficiency of oxygen in the body and contributes to an increase in the number of contractions of the thick heart muscle.
Due to the last factor, standard blood pressure indicators often change upward, which is not good for any human body.
How are the human neck and blood pressure related?
The vertebrae of the cervical spine are one of the most mobile parts of the human spine. Thanks to them, a person performs numerous turns of the head from side to side, as well as circular movements with it.
Due to heavy physical activity, the cervical elements of the spine are one of the most vulnerable parts of the human axial skeleton
There are only seven cervical vertebrae in the human body. With osteochondrosis, they often compress the main artery of the axial skeleton, which is responsible for delivering blood to the responsible parts of the brain. As a result, the latter instantly receives a signal about hypoxia, and the human body concentrates as much as possible on preventing oxygen starvation of the most important organ. Vascular tone increases, blood flow increases, and normal blood pressure levels increase.
In most cases, when osteochondrosis suddenly appears, people do not pay close attention to the emerging disease; they neglect treatment and continue to live peacefully. Over time, even the appearance of hypertension becomes normal for them. But in fact, pain in the spine and a diagnosis such as high blood pressure are worth fighting to prevent the development of more serious complications in the future.
In order to cure hypertension, restore the circulation of biological substrates in the body and eliminate deformation of the vessels of the cervical spine, many specialists, in addition to prescribing pills and using any other methods of treatment, recommend their patients to regularly do Alexander Shishonin’s gymnastics.
Treatment of hypertension
When treating intervertebral hernia in patients, Alexander Yuryevich turned to massage the patients. He noticed that in many cases this also helped cure arterial hypertension.
The explanation for this is simple! In addition to the discs, blood vessels and arteries are unclenched, due to which blood begins to flow more actively into the brain, and the load on the heart decreases. It is because of the compression of these arteries and poor circulation that hypertension occurs. The brain simply doesn't have enough oxygen. This problem is especially common in people who lead an inactive lifestyle.
Thanks to several exercises that the doctor suggests, you can relax the neck muscles, stabilize blood circulation and get rid of high blood pressure.
Of course, massage alone cannot cure severe hypertension! In combination with other drugs and techniques, the result will be much more effective. Now the doctor is trying to improve his unique massage technique. An important condition for this gymnastics is the regularity of its use.
What is Alexander Shishonin’s gymnastics?
This unique development is a set of specific exercises aimed at training the muscles of the cervical spine and stopping destructive processes in the collar area, which negatively affect the upper part of the spinal column.
Doctor Alexander Yuryevich Shishonin first presented his creation, created together with medical workers at the Bubnovsky health center, at a specialized international congress in the USA. And since 2008, Dr. Shishonin’s technique has become popular among many patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. This method is actively used to this day to treat various other diseases:
- hypertension;
- diseases of the endocrine system and diabetes;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia, etc.
And also for correction of the cervical spine with insufficient cerebral blood supply, constant headaches, chronic fatigue, severe fatigue or decreased performance, failure to maintain proper nutrition, etc.
Basic rules for performing the complex
Before you start performing physical therapy exercises, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic basic rules:
Can cervical osteochondrosis cause high blood pressure?
- the exercise itself is performed 1.5-2 hours after finishing the meal, not earlier;
- before performing the exercises, the cervical area and the back of the head are pre-warmed with light, slightly massaging circular movements;
- physical activity should increase gradually - for the first 7-10 days it will be enough to do 3-4 exercises from the seven described below;
- Regularity is important - in the first week you should do gymnastics daily so that the body can get used to physical activity, later it is recommended to reduce the exercises to three times a week;
- during gymnastics, you need to keep your back straight and your head level; the exercises themselves should be performed slowly and carefully, since quick jerks will not lead to a good result, but will only aggravate the situation.
The effectiveness of gymnastics for hypertensive patients
Correctly performed exercises, according to the doctor, are always effective. First of all, it is necessary to normalize blood flow, since without this it is impossible to cure persistent hypertension.
It is imperative to give a suitable load to the lower extremities.
The doctor claims that these physical activities are a kind of emergency first aid for hypertension. Gymnastics should definitely become a daily habit for every person suffering from high blood pressure.
However, the severity of the disease must be taken into account. After experiencing a hypertensive crisis or stroke, you need to select special exercises so as not to cause harm.
Neck exercises
The Shishonin method of exercises includes seven exercises that help to effectively work on the muscles of the cervical frame. You can clearly see each of them in the video “Secrets of treating hypertension from Dr. Shishonin” on YouTube.
The main idea of this exercise is to fully comply with the exercise technique and clearly fix the neck in a certain position for a certain period of time: for beginners this is 10-15 seconds, for advanced users - on average 30 seconds.
It is recommended to perform exercises from this exercise therapy accompanied by relaxing music or without any sound at all.
"Metronome"
This exercise works well, strengthens and stretches the lateral muscles of the cervical frame. It is enough to repeat it 5 times for each side.
During the execution, it is necessary to alternately tilt the head in each direction so that strong tension is felt in the muscles located on the opposite side of the neck. Each tilt must be fixed for at least 10–15 seconds.
"Spring"
This exercise helps strengthen the muscles located at the top of the spine.
In the process of performing it, it is necessary to pull the back of the head as high as possible so that the chin part of the face is pressed against the collarbone, and the back muscles of the neck are very tense. The head must be fixed in this position for at least 10–15 seconds.
After performing the exercise, the chin should be slowly moved upward, thus achieving tension in the anterior muscles of the cervical frame. Under no circumstances should you throw your head too far behind your back. The whole process must be kept under control.
"Look to the Sky"
This exercise helps to work out and train the deep cervical muscles located under the back of the head. It is recommended to perform it while sitting.
During the execution, you need to straighten your back as much as possible and stretch your neck upward. From this starting position, it is necessary to alternately tilt your head in each direction until it stops, without helping your body by turning your shoulders. In a tense state, you should hold your head for at least 10–15 seconds.
"Frame"
This exercise helps strengthen, develop and tone the scalene muscles of the neck, located on the sides of the neck, between the collarbone and trapezius muscle. The starting position here is sitting on the floor, your back and shoulders should be straight.
During the execution, it is necessary to loosen one hand and place the other on the shoulder of the opposite limb so that its elbow is parallel to the floor. Pressing the palm of your hand against the shoulder joint, you need to turn your head in the direction opposite to the shoulder joint on which the hand is located, and press it onto the shoulder. This position should be fixed for a while.
"Fakir"
This exercise helps to train the muscles of the upper limbs and cervical spine, reduce their involuntary contraction and significantly improve the movement of blood flow in this area. Starting position – sitting, clasping your hands raised up above the top of your head. During the exercise, you must slowly turn your head in each direction in turn so that the hands fixed above it remain in place. Each turn must be fixed for at least 10–15 seconds.
"Heron"
This exercise has a general strengthening effect on the muscles of the neck and thoracic spine, helps reduce the feeling of heaviness in the back, and also improves posture.
When performing it, you need to move the upper limbs of the body as far as possible behind the back, while creating tension in the interscapular muscles. In this case, the chin part of the face must be pulled up, stretching the anterior muscles of the neck, and fixed in this position for at least 10–15 seconds, and then relaxed. The exercise must be repeated three times.
Final massage
It is recommended to complete the main exercises of Shishonin training gymnastics with a restorative massage of the cervical spine.
Massage can be done either with your own hands or with the help of a specialist.
The massage technique is simple. First, you need to massage the occipital region of the head, while avoiding strong finger pressure on this area. After a few minutes, you should move with gentle movements to the spine, not bypassing the shoulders and upper part of the scapula. Next, using circular movements, you need to work out all the vertebrae in the neck; it is recommended to start from the bottom. After pinpointing the latter, you need to grab the neck with your hands so that the thumb is in the back of it, and the rest are on the sides, and begin a pinching massage of the upper back, slowly moving to the front of the neck. Next, after finishing with pinching, you need to work the area from the chin to the collarbone with point movements. The massage should be completed by slowly massaging the temples with the index fingers and working the back of the head with rolling movements.
The final massage will help the neck muscles relax after the stress received during exercise, and will also quickly relieve headaches, if any.
Breathing exercises for pressure
Breathing exercises are of no small importance for normalizing high blood pressure.
During a crisis, you need to take deep breaths - this helps reduce pressure by supplying oxygen to the brain. This has a calming effect. Therefore, instead of taking sedatives, you can simply do breathing exercises.
To control your breathing, you first need to relax and calm down. Imagine that you are breathing not with your lungs, but with your stomach. When you inhale and exhale, a certain energy moves. This idea will help you control your breathing process. When you inhale, the stomach should inflate, and when you exhale, it should deflate. The chest should not expand much. Your shoulders need to be relaxed.
When you inhale, be sure to count ten seconds at its height and only then exhale smoothly. This is the simplest method of breathing exercises.
Positive aspects of gymnastics and contraindications
Shishonin’s gymnastics for hypertension not only has a positive effect on blood pressure, but also reduces pain in the cervical back, normalizes blood circulation, activates metabolic processes and removes swelling.
In addition, Dr. Shishonin’s gymnastics has a number of other advantages:
- it is easy to do and is suitable even for those people who do not have highly developed physical fitness;
- performing all the exercises takes no more than 20–30 minutes and does not require a separate room, any additional equipment, or special sportswear (it is enough to wear comfortable clothes that do not restrict body movements);
- all exercises are performed smoothly, slowly, which means that the likelihood of accidentally injuring the tendons during their execution is eliminated.
Like any other exercise therapy complex, Shishonin’s neck gymnastics has its contraindications. It is prescribed only at the first or second stage of osteochondrosis and is used mainly in conjunction with other treatment methods. In case of serious violations, the situation can only be corrected by surgical intervention. This therapy is also not prescribed:
- in the presence of critical inflammation in the body and internal bleeding;
- when body temperature is very high;
- in case of detection of disturbances in the functioning of the body’s hormonal system;
- when there are pronounced painful sensations in the neck, shoulders and back;
- in case of malignant formations in the neck area.
The above-described gymnastics has many positive reviews from hypertensive patients. Many patients suffering from a hypertensive crisis note that performing these exercises not only helps to quickly get rid of hypertension, but also helps to eliminate headaches and insomnia without the use of drugs, and also improves neck mobility and overall performance of the body. Some people even report improved visual acuity.
What is profitable for the pharmacy, but not for us?
The heart of the unfortunate patient is between a rock and a hard place - on the one hand, the body, represented by the brain, gives the pump a command to build up pressure in the hydraulic system, and on the other, the heart is slammed with chemicals so that it does not do this. As a result of such contradictory commands, a person gradually develops arrhythmia and tachycardia. That is why the absolute statistical leader in hypertensive mortality is a heart attack, and not a stroke - the heart simply cannot withstand such mockery.
Already 15 years ago in Russia, the reason for the increase in blood pressure in an aging body was discovered, and several tens of thousands of patients were even completely cured of hypertension (their blood pressure is maintained at normal levels without medications). But WHO still recommends putting people on “wheels,” a sudden refusal of which can even lead to death. At the same time, the number of prescribed drugs in some patients reaches 30 - such a poor fellow will die, if not from a heart attack, then from drug-induced cirrhosis of the liver! Of course, this is beneficial for the pharmacy. But do you and I need this?
Article on the topic
Nightmare at dawn. Why do fever and hypertension strike at night? In 2021, a total of 60 million people died on the planet. Of these, 20 million are from the consequences of hypertension. Every third! And the number of hypertensive patients is growing, and hypertension is getting younger. According to the same WHO recommendations, even children are put on pills that do not cure, but only relieve symptoms. At what fork in the road did modern medicine take a wrong turn?
Medicine took the necessary turn when it decided that hypertension was a disease. Meanwhile, increased blood pressure, as well as increased temperature, inflammation, pain, and snot are not diseases, but just a nonspecific reaction of the body to some pathological factor. But no one says that there is a “painful disease” or a “snotty disease”, which also needs to be dealt with symptomatically, for example, by plugging the nostrils with plugs. But the jump in pressure that the body organizes for itself was taken and with criminal ease called an independent hypertension! Well, since it’s a disease (and not a symptom), we’ll treat it! And they treat, although, in fact, they cripple.
The first person to draw attention to such an illogical state of affairs was Doctor Alexander Shishonin, Candidate of Medical Sciences. He treated cervical osteochondrosis in his clinic until he noticed that along with the straightened vertebrae, his patients’ hypertension also disappeared. Having become interested in and having cured tens of thousands of patients from the “killer of the century,” Shishonin became firmly established in an idea, the simplicity of which for some time he himself could not believe.
