The irregular and rapid heartbeat caused by atrial fibrillation (Afib) can be downright terrifying. It’s the kind of thing that sends you rushing to the ER, unsure if your heart is racing out of control for no reason or if something more serious is going on. Afib is not just scary—it’s linked to stroke, heart failure, and other complications. It can also cause symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, and overall weakness. Part of the problem is, that in a situation where your heart has gone into Afib, you could end up on medications like blood thinners for the rest of your life.
If you’ve been dealing with Afib, you may already know about some of its common causes: high blood pressure, heart disease, stress, and even caffeine. But there’s another factor that often gets overlooked—the connection between your autonomic nervous system and your upper neck.
Let’s break this down a bit. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for all the automatic functions in your body, like keeping your heart beating, your lungs breathing, and your digestion humming along. It has two branches: the sympathetic branch (your gas pedal) and the parasympathetic branch (your brake). The sympathetic side revs you up—it’s what kicks in when you’re stressed or in fight-or-flight mode. The parasympathetic side helps you relax, recover, and restore balance.
The key to good health is balance between these two systems. If the sympathetic system goes into overdrive, it can cause spikes in heart rate, stress, and irregular rhythms—like Afib. While caffeine, stress, or even lack of sleep can trigger these spikes, I’ve found that an often-overlooked factor is the upper neck.
I’ve seen this play out in my own practice with patients who come in dealing with Afib as a secondary issue. They’re often shocked when I tell them that correcting the alignment of the upper cervical spine—the top two bones in the neck—can help improve their heart rhythm. Here’s why this works: the upper neck protects the lower portion of the brainstem, which is the major control center for the autonomic nervous system. If those top two bones, the Atlas and Axis, are misaligned, they can put pressure on the brainstem, throwing off its ability to properly regulate the autonomic nervous system. This miscommunication can lead to spikes in sympathetic activity, causing issues like Afib.
Through a gentle, precise adjustment of the upper cervical spine, we can relieve the pressure on the brainstem and restore proper function to the autonomic nervous system. This allows your body—and your heart—to get back to regulating itself naturally.
If you or someone you know is dealing with Afib, it’s worth considering whether your neck alignment might be playing a role. At Upper Cervical Health Centers of Fort Myers, we specialize in gentle adjustments that can make a world of difference. We offer a free evaluation to see if your upper cervical spine is in proper alignment and working as it should. Give us a call at 239-243-8810 to schedule your free consultation today. Let’s work together to get your heart—and your health—back on track.
