Jonny, is a five-year-old boy, who has been suffering from bronchial asthma for the past three years. His attacks were now coming daily and he was on increasing doses of medication, which included the bronchodilator spray, Ventolin, and steroids.
In the last 3 years Jonny has been hospitalised 6 times due to his asthma and as a result he has missed out on 50% of his schooling. Because of his asthma, Jonny's quality of life has slowly diminished, he is unable to socialise with his peers let alone undertake all the activities a 5 year old should be part of.
Jonny's mother was very concerned about her son's condition. She had just been told by Jonny's physician that his medication dosage could not be increased any further at his age, even though his asthma attacks were occurring daily and were quite debilitating.
A friend of Jonny's mother recommended she try her Chiropractor, as she was able to help with her daughter's asthma. On his first visit, the Chiropractor noticed a slight spinal problem in Jonny - in the area associated with asthma. Following 8 Chiropractic visits over a period of 2 翻 weeks, his mother stated that Jonny had not needed to use his inhaler for 2 days. In addition to this, his wheezing had ceased and he could run without grasping for air. Follow up assessment 4 months later revealed that Jonny had been free of asthmatic attacks and had not required his medication since his last adjustment. He is now able to participate in soccer (his favourite sport), is able to run around with his friends and has not missed another day from school.
So how did Chiropractic help Jonny with his asthma?
Before we can understand how a Chiropractor can help with asthma, we must first understand what asthma is and how it affects your child.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a lung condition which occurs when there is a narrowing of the airways due to constriction and inflammation of the airways. Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. There is increased evidence that if left untreated, asthma may cause a long term decline in lung function. Currently, there is no real cure for asthma. Instead doctors prescribe medication as a way to temporarily manage their symptoms.
Some side effects of asthma medication include: poor growth, osteoporosis, stomach upset, nausea, wheezing, headaches, skin rash, poor liver function, cough, sneezing, allergic reactions, sinus infections, nose bleeds, upper respiratory tract infections, anaphylaxis, feeling faint or dizzy, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, and the list goes on.
With this list of side effects, is medication a safe way to manage asthma? What is a possible alternative? Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms related to asthma due to the belief that there is a strong link between asthma and interference with the nervous system and the spine.
How can Chiropractic help your child with asthma?
Chiropractors believe that there is a strong relationship between the spine and asthma. The nerves from your child's spinal cord passes through the spine and travels to the different organs of the body. The nerves from the mid-back region carry vital information to your child's lungs to allow them to function optimally. When a spinal misalignment exists (subluxation) in this area of your child's spine, it may cause nerve pressure and affect the function of the lungs. This in-turn may contribute to asthma.
Removal of this irritation, allows the nerves to send the right information through to the lungs, and allow it to function optimally. The result... healthier lungs. This is how a Chiropractor can help alleviate the effects of asthma.
While medication aims to mask the symptoms of asthma, a Chiropractor aims to correct the actual cause - subluxations. Since Chiropractors are the only health professionals qualified to identify and correct these subluxations, taking your child to see a Chiropractor for their asthma just makes sense!
Parents are often surprised to find that a Chiropractor can help babies and children. They often ask, "isn't my child too young to have a spinal problem?" The answer I always give is a resounding NO! Did you know that the first spinal problem usually develops at birth? And many times it remains undetected? In my busy Ramsgate practice, I have helped many children with asthma. Some were able to get off their medication, and others are now able to enjoy a more comfortable life.
Chiropractic adjustments for children are very gentle, and sometimes even quite ticklish. Spinal adjustments by a qualified Chiropractor are safe and highly effective!
Many children (and adults for that matter) around the world visit a Chiropractor to help them with their asthma. If you are tired of seeing your child suffer and would like a more natural approach to their asthma consider a qualified Chiropractor.
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