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Nearly 40 million Americans,
that's 25% of the total population, suffer with asthma and
other allergy diseases.
In an asthma attack the child or adult respond similarly with
severe congestion, swelling, and other allergic type reactions
in response to various irritants. As the reaction progresses,
breathing becomes more difficult and in some cases life threatening.
The bronchioles swell with mucous and go into spasm. This
closes the airways and causes the asthmatic to wheeze and
gasp for air.
The problem
Although the traditional methods for controlling asthma and
allergies are numerous, sickness and death from asthma appear
to be increasing. The New England Journal of Medicine reported
a trend that is at least partially due to side-effects from
regular use of inhaled medications. Other journals have reported
similar drug related side-effects. More and more people are
looking for alternatives to drugs. Chiropractic offers hope
to many parents.
A new approach
In a recent study, children with asthma showed an overall
improvement in the lung capacity after only 8 chiropractic
adjustments. This study along with others offers hope for
people with asthma. Dr. Alan Stoddard, an osteopathic researcher
found similar problems with patients suffering from allergies
and asthma. He reported that many diseases are due to abnormal
spinal biomechanics.
There is ample research
documenting the intimate connection between the spinal column,
the nervous system, and the respiratory system. In several
studies researchers found spinal adjustments to give superior
respiratory function and chest mobility when compared to conventional
medical bronchodilators, expectorants, and corticosteroids.
Vertebral subluxations (abnormal spinal alignment causing
nerve interference) in the neck and upper back can produce
associated muscle spasms, which cause a restriction and stasis
of the lymphatic drainage from the head and neck. As a result
the body is unable to wash out the bacteria, allergen and
foreign material to which it is exposed. As this vital process
is slowed, the phagocytic activity within the lymphatic chain
(drainage of waste, bacteria, etc.) is interrupted. Chiropractic
adjustments in many cases will produce immediate relaxation
of the neck musculature which was obstructing the lymphatic
(neck) drainage. The adjustments improve respiratory function
by restoring normal nerve function which in turn may result
in symptomatic improvement in bronchitis, allergies and asthma.
Nerve control
The primary muscle for breathing is the diaphragm. It is composed
of two muscles, the left and right hemidiaphragms, which separate
the chest and abdominal cavities. The phrenic nerve (C3, C4,
C5 - neck nerves) powers the diaphragm. If this nerve supply
is interfered with, such as in a subluxation in the neck,
the diaphragm weakens and breathing becomes impaired. Additional
muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, scalene,
and pectorals operate to assist the diaphragm during a period
of increased breathing effort, such as exercise or severs
respiratory illness, all of these muscles must have nerve
supply to work. Subluxations interfering with normal nerve
supply can cause muscular imbalances leading to a weaker respiratory
tract. Restoring nerve supply by correcting vertebral subluxations
not only improves muscle tome but actually aids in overall
body function, especially the immune response.
Chiropractic is
safe and natural
The chiropractic approach to health care is natural, in that
it does not try to stimulate or inhibit normal body function.
Instead, the chiropractor realizes the importance of the nervous
system in the healing process. Science is beginning to realize
the body's potential to heal itself.
One study in particular
followed the life of 115 families with children aged 0-7 years
suffering from asthma, diabetes, allergies and epilepsy. This
study indicated that vertebral subluxations cause abnormal
body function which may cause sickness and disease. Due to
this, your chiropractor may be the best doctor to help you
and your child improve overall health and wellness.
Information
reprinted with the permission of The Baby Adjusters (800)
824-3031
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