Helping You Breathe Easier

By D. Dave Edenfield

Asthma is one of those diseases that continues to grow in this country.  In 2000, roughly twenty million 

Asthma Inhaler (Photo credit: NIAID_Flickr)

people in the US were afflicted with asthma.  By 2009 those numbers had grown to twenty five million, or one person in twelve.  In fact, in the past twenty years the occurrence of asthma has nearly doubled in the population.  While many of those afflicted suffer in silence, asthma can sometimes turn deadly, being responsible for 3,447 fatalities in 2009, including 185 children. 

Thought to be caused by a combination of inherited traits along with a number of environmental factors, asthma attacks involve both muscle constriction along with inflammation of the victim’s airways.  The most common symptoms are wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.   Triggers can include such things as stress, allergic reactions, physical exercise, and even inclement weather.  Sufferers usually rely on drugs such as steroids and inhalers to control the symptoms.  Even with insurance, the cost of treating the disease does not come cheaply.

What many people do not realize is that chiropractic can offer a drug-free approach that can help to fight this disease.  In the first place, a chiropractor can perform a physical examination to see if spinal misalignment 

Asthma: Mild and Chronic (Photo credit: NIAID_Flickr)

which can irritate the nerves is one causative factor that can trigger asthma.  Since the lungs and diaphragm are controlled by the nervous system, any interference can make it impossible for the lungs to do their job properly.  In such circumstances, a series of spinal adjustments can be all it takes to alleviate any pressure that is interfering with the nerves ability to send signals to these areas.  Although chiropractic treatments will not necessarily eliminate all the symptoms, periodic adjustments can prove instrumental in helping those afflicted improve their quality of life.

More importantly, chiropractic care is safe for even the youngest of children.  One study of children aged six 

to seventeen who had asthma and who underwent chiropractic treatment revealed that they experienced less severe attacks than those children using traditional remedies.  Chiropractors can also discuss a number of other strategies, including nutrition and dietary supplements that can help young and old reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. 

Tips for Reducing Asthma Symptoms:

•   Switch to hypoallergenic bedding to reduce exposure to dust mites.
•   If strenuous activity brings on attacks, talk to your chiropractor about safe exercise routines. 
•    Your chiropractor can also advise you about medications which are known to exacerbate the condition.  
•      Avoid foods known to contain MSG. 
•     Install air filtration at home to reduce pollutants and allergens.

While asthma is one disease that is difficult to cure, by taking the proper precautions and creating an environment that minimizes triggers, all asthma sufferers can breathe a little easier.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/ who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.