Managing the asthma symptoms with chiropractic care

Children benefit from chiropractic care too.

Alleviating the symptoms of asthma with chiropractic care

The UK has some of the highest rates of asthma sufferers in the UK with 5.4 million people currently receiving treatment – that’s 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults. It’s shocking to know that there were 1,143 deaths from asthma in 2010 and 16 of these were children.

Yet it’s believed that as many as 90% of these deaths are preventable. So what are the factors behind the numbers* and what has this got to do with chiropractic care?

The number of asthma sufferers is rising and extensive research is underway to attempt to pinpoint the key factors:

  • Genetics – genetic testing may eventually provide early signposting for asthma. Sometime down the road, there may even be pharmaceutical or medical remedies.
  • Allergens – many allergens are found in commonly used cleaning products and even in carpets, furnishings and furniture.
  • Air quality – drafty houses allow fresh air to circulate, minimising the risk of mold and other allergens. Basements are typically problematic for asthma sufferers and double glazing can reduce air quality in modern houses.
  • Food and medicines – manufactures, processed food is mostly likely to include allergenic preservatives. Some medicines, including vaccinations and antibiotics, can also contribute to allergen exposure.

So what can chiropractic care achieve. After all, as a chronic condition, asthma cannot be cured, only managed. It is recommended that asthma sufferers consult with their GP for diagnosis and treatment, thereafter chiropractic care can be considered.

Chiropractic care

Doctors of chiropractic will provide an holistic evaluation of asthma patients, taking into account their overall physiology, health, diet, lifestyle and potential stress factors. Using techniques of spinal adjustment to correct subluxations (vertebrae misalignments) and develop good spinal health, a chiropractor will help patients to improve their posture, motor coordination, respiratory and stomach muscles.

  • Allergen testing – to identify specific allergens and to seek ways to reduce exposure to substances that provoke aggravated episodes.
  • Stress management – life events, such as changing schools, moving house, bereavements etc can all prompt asthma attacks. Emotional outbursts, from tears to laughter, anger or fear, can also trigger attacks. Chiropractic care works well alongside relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and other alternative treatments. Building the health of your spine and central nervous system will lead to asthma sufferers, becoming more comfortable and stronger in their bodies – making these relaxation techniques much more effective and enjoyable.

This ‘total life’ approach has been found through clinical trials to show a significant improvement of bronchial hyper-reactivity and a decrease of asthma severity. Separate trials showed that patients treated with spinal adjustments showed significant improvement in asthma symptoms.

* Asthma statistics provided by Asthma UK http://www.asthma.org.uk/asthma-facts-and-statistics