According to the Centers for Disease Control, asthma affects approximately every 1 in 13 individuals. It is the leading cause for chronic disease in kids, and is a top reason for absences from school. Asthma causes more than 2 million ER visits each year, and the average overnight hospital stay is over three days. With so many suffering from asthma, chances are you or someone you know is suffering too. The questions is: can chiropractic help?
What Is Asthma?
We've all heard of it, but unless you or someone close to you has asthma, you might not know exactly what it is. Asthma is defined as a chronic disease that is characterized by repetitive episodes of wheezing and breathlessness. The severity and frequency of these episodes vary from person to person. Some suffer from attacks at any time, while others experience them depending on their situation, such as after strenuous physical activity or exposure to allergens.
When an asthma attack is happening, the bronchial tubes (linings of the passageways that air flows in and out of the lungs through) become irritated and swollen. That leads to the tubes becoming more narrow and results in restricted airflow coming in and out of the lungs. The person experiencing the asthma attack then suffers breathlessness and wheezing.
The lack of proper airflow leads to obvious discomfort, but it can also cause more serious health issues including fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty concentrating.
Can Chiropractic Care Help?
As chiropractors, we don't actually treat asthma. The good news is that we may be able to help. We look at how well the body is functioning overall in relation to the health of the spine. If we treat a patient suffering from something like asthma, we will look at all levels of the spine associated with the involved structures. For example, the thoracic spinal segments house the nerves that leave the portion of the spine that supply the lungs and bronchial tubes, so we would focus on adjustments in that area.
If the thoracic spine is misaligned or not able to reach its full range of motion, it can cause an interference in how large the lungs expand while inhaling. When the spine is adjusted and full range of motion is returned to the thoracic spine, the lungs are better able to take in the greatest amount of air possible. Though it may seem like a small decrease in movement, all motion matters for those dealing with asthma. And so chiropractic adjustments may provide asthma sufferers with relief.
If you suffer from asthma and are looking for a natural way to help your body perform optimally, call us today and we can help you and your lungs!
