Asthma is a chronic lung disease that has afflicted more people in the last 20 years than ever. Some doctors attribute the increase to the pollutants in the air, the changes in the modern diet, and lack of adequate ventilation in homes.
Asthma symptoms vary by individuals and may be mild, severe, or somewhere in between. Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, along with a wheezing sound when exhaling are common asthma symptoms. Common treatments include inhalers and other medications.
For many asthma sufferers, timing of these symptoms is closely related to physical activity. And, some otherwise healthy people can develop asthma symptoms only when exercising. This is called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), or exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Staying active is an important way to stay healthy, so asthma shouldn’t keep you on the sidelines. Your physician can develop a management plan to keep your symptoms under control before, during and after physical activity.
In the definition of Asthma, we saw that it was a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction. These are both signs that the nervous system are not functioning at an optimal level.
When we have one or more subluxations present we can start to see signs of hyperactivity of the nervous system and body. The usual pollutants and allergens in the air can now cause dramatic responses. The same exercise can cause a different result with the way we are breathing. Stress typically managed can create difficulty breathing.
Chiropractic does not seek to treat asthma. We locate the subluxations and stresses on your nervous system. When those are removed your body can return to its normal function. This can decrease the body’s over-reaction to what are typical stresses and substances in our environment.
When it comes to breathing issues, a chiropractor will take a well-rounded approach in helping you find relief. In addition to taking into account your full medical history, a chiropractor will do a thorough physical evaluation and discuss treatment options that could include both breathing exercises and spinal adjustments.
During spinal adjustments, chiropractors focus on subluxations, or misalignments, which in addition to the spine can affect many parts of the body. For breathing, this includes the muscles in the chest, ribs, upper back and neck, which all support proper breathing. If any of those areas is tight, it can be harder to breathe. A chiropractor works to fix those subluxations, so that movement in your chest is not restricted, and your brain and your body can communicate more effectively. In fact, surveys have shown that more than a fourth of people who receive chiropractic treatment report better breathing.
As a natural, non-invasive way of treating health problems, chiropractic care can help patients to avoid issues associated with taking over-the-counter and prescription medicines over long periods of time. If you or someone you love is having problems with breathing and wants help, contact a professional.
