Blood Flow and the Brain
The brain is the most important organ in the body. Without it nothing else works. The job of the brain is to gather information from other organs and tissues in the body via the nervous system. This information tells the brain about conditions in both the external environment around the body and the internal environment of the body. With this information the brain can then make a decision about what processes need to take place for the body to survive and function optimally. Messages are then passed back to the appropriate organs or tissues about what they need to do. We call this process adaptation and it is vital for life to continue.
The brain is working 24/7, even when you are asleep it is keeping you alive and functioning. It is the most active organ in the body and takes a lot of energy to run, the brain is where most of the calories you consume are burned. To get these calories to the brain it requires a delivery system, this is the role of blood. Blood flow into the brain carries nutrients and oxygen so the brain can continue to function optimally. If this delivery system is disrupted this can lead to issues and suboptimal brain function. On the other side of the equation the brain needs to be able to drain toxins and metabolites, in order to do so the blood needs to drain away via the venous system. There is a second system for waste removal in the brain involving the cerebrospinal fluid which you can learn about in a previous blog.
The neck is the gateway to the brain, both neurologically via the spinal cord, and vascularly via the arterial system going in, and the venous system coming out. The primary arteries going into the neck are the carotid arteries, which supply blood flow to the front part of the brain, and the vertebral arteries which run to the back part of the brain as well as the brainstem and cerebellum.
The arteries and veins in the neck need to be able to pass unimpeded into and out of the skull inorder to have optimal blood flow to and from the brain. Because of the course of these vessel through the neck there is potential for them to become compressed by muscles or changes in vertebral position. The most notable vessels that can be affected by the vertebrae are the vertebral artery, internal carotid artery, and the internal jugular vein.
The vertebral arteries run up either side of the neck between each of the cervical vertebrae (bones of the neck). At the base of the spine they combine to form the basilar artery, this artery has branches which supply blood to the brainstem, cerebellum, and back parts of the brain. When C1 becomes misaligned from it’s normal position it can put pressure on the vertebral arteries and alter the efficiency of the blood flow passing through it into the brain.
Due the proximity of the internal carotid arteries to the upper cervical spine they have potential to become compressed by the C1 vertebra if it moves forwards from its normal position. This change is position can be identified on a CBCT scan. This can be a contributing factor in patients struggling with brainfog or pulsatile tinnitus.
If the internal jugular vein is involved as has become compressed it can alter the efficiency of blood draining from the brain. This can then lead to a build up of toxins in the brain as they are not being drained. This may also contribute to mild pooling of blood around the brain particularly following a head injury or concussion which can delay recovery.
If you want to find out more about the effect changes in blood flow can impact your brain health, or if you have concerns about yourself or someone you know, then book a call with Dr. Elliott and he can help to advise you on the best course of care.
Learn More About Chiropractic!
Migraines - here
Cervicogenic Headaches - here
Child Speech Delay - here
Meniere’s Disease - here
Brain Fog - here
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) - here
Whiplash and Whiplash-Associated Disorder - here
Concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome - here
Long Covid - here
Parkinson’s Disease – here
Tinnitus - here
Dystonia - here
Craniocervical (Upper Cervical) Instability - here
Dizziness - here
Epilepsy - here
Ear Problems - here
Dysautonomia - here
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - here
Mental Health Issues - here
Seizures - here
Cluster Headaches - here
Bells Palsy - here
Multiple Sclerosis - here
Trigeminal Neuralgia - here
CSF Flow - here
Vagus Nerve - here
Chiropractic Philosophy - here
Digital Content and the Brain - here
Cerebrospinal Fluid - here
Maintenance Care - here
