27 July 2017
 Categories: , Blog

Asthma affects quite a number of children and adults, although the severity of symptoms varies significantly from one person to the next. However, the treatment generally follows a similar course. If you're asthmatic, you probably have an inhaler to use if you feel an attack coming on, and perhaps a second one to use daily. Other than that, it's generally down to avoiding your triggers and maybe learning some breathing techniques.

But did you know that chiropractic could help your asthma?

A chiropractor is where you'll probably head if you're suffering from problems with your back, neck, or overall posture. Through manipulating the spine and providing advice and exercises, they can help deal with these problems with an obvious connection to spinal wellness. Asthma is one such condition, and chiropractors have noted great success in treating some asthmatic patients. Here's what you should know if you think this could be useful to you.

Asthma attacks

When you experience an asthma attack, the breathing difficulty becomes severe because the muscles in the chest tighten, constricting the airways so less air can get through. This is compounded by the airways swelling and narrowing, along with increased mucus production causing a slight blockage. The panic and stress you probably feel when this happens can make it worse still, making it difficult to deal with.

The spinal connection

Asthma attacks don't just come out of nowhere – there's some sort of trigger that will set off a chain of events leading to an attack. Commonly, these are things like dust, cold air, or pet hair, but there is quite a range of things individuals might have trouble with.

To put things simply, when a trigger is detected by the body, the signal is sent to the brain via the spinal cord. In asthma patients, however, this is particularly sensitive, setting of an extreme reaction with only minor input.

By manipulating the spine at key points, a chiropractor can help reduce this sensitivity, which will, in turn, make attacks less likely. While asthma can't be cured, you can work with a chiropractor to reduce its severity and keep control over the condition.

Other benefits

Chiropractors can also help you to improve your posture, which can also be beneficial if you're asthmatic. A bad posture means your chest is almost always closed and constricted, which makes normal breathing more difficult. By straightening up and opening your shoulders, you'll find an improvement in your respiration quite quickly.