Each of us has stress in our lives, in one form or another. The job, finances, kids, a personal relationship—stress can come in a variety of shapes. It’s important to recognize signs of stress.

Tense and painful muscles are common signs of stress. Stress can also be felt in some quiet, but quite serious, ways. It can manifest itself in your cardiovascular system and contribute to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke and other physical ailments.

A study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that in some circumstances chiropractic treatment was effective in lowering the blood pressure of patients who were in the early stages of the condition. Adjustment of the Atlas—or C1—vertebra, which is the doughnut-shaped first bone of the spine under the base of the skull, reduced the blood pressure of study participants.

It’s important to note that even if your stress is caused by financial concerns, cutting your budget for health care—whether it be your regular physician, dentist, chiropractor, etc.—is not a sound strategy. Maintaining all aspects of your health is the most sound policy of all—and cheaper in the long run. Talk with your chiropractor about ways to reduce stress in your life.