Chiropractic and Asthma: The Answer Will Leave You Breathless

By Dr. Molly Casey

Asthma affects approximately 1 in 13 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Asthma is also the leading chronic disease in children, as well as the top reason for missed school days. Asthma causes more than 2 million emergency room visits each year; when overnight hospital stays are required, the average length is 3.6 days. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America provide more statistics here, but chances are that either you or someone you know deals with asthma. So what can you do about it and can chiropractic help?

Asthma

World Health Organization defines asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent episodes of breathlessness and wheezing. The severity and the frequency are dependent upon the person. While some experience attacks at any time, others experience asthma attacks induced by certain situations or events such as exercise.

Bronchial tubes are the passageways that air flows through into and out of the lungs. During an asthma attack, the lining of the tubes are irritated and swell. This causes a narrowing of the tubes, thus a reduction of airflow into and out of the lungs. Hence, the wheezing and breathlessness.

Reduced airflow and asthma attacks can contribute to more health issues than the obvious discomfort from lack of proper airflow. This includes difficulty sleeping, daytime fatigue, decreased activity levels, and ability to concentrate and carry out daily duties as well as school and work absenteeism.

Can Chiropractic Help Asthma

Correct spinal alignment and full range of spinal joint motion support proper nervous system functioning. The nervous system is your master control system. When the spine is misaligned or not moving properly, it can negatively affect your body’s ability to handle irritants that would otherwise not be an issue.

Chiropractors don’t treat asthma. They do, however, look at the functioning of the entire body as a result of how well the spine is moving or not moving. If a patient is suffering from an ailment such as asthma, the chiropractor looks at the level of the spine that is associated with those structures involved. With regard to asthma, if necessary, chiropractors can check and adjust the thoracic spinal segments because the nerves that exit this portion of your spine innervate (or supply) the lungs and bronchial tubes.

When the thoracic spine is misaligned or not moving through its full range of motion, it can also impede the ability of the lungs to expand fully with inhalation. So when chiropractors adjust the spine and restore the full range of motion to the thoracic spine, it aids in the lungs’ ability to take in the maximum amount of air possible. While this decrease in movement may seem minimal, all motion counts no matter how small, especially if one is dealing with asthma.

So yes, chiropractic may help those with asthma.

If you deal with asthma and are looking to use more conservative measures, let the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic check your spine and assist you and your lungs in the healthiest life possible.

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