Chiropractic has long been known as a great option for those dealing with neck and back pain. But did you know that chiropractic can actually improve your overall health and wellness in a variety of other ways too? In fact, a lot of people in Bozeman are under regular and consistent chiropractic care, even if they don’t have significant musculoskeletal issues, simply because it helps their body function well and keeps them feeling great.

One area that has been of great interest in recent years is the respiratory system. While lung health has always been important, our attention has been brought more to the significance of strong lungs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While lung health may be a new focus for some, others have been facing lung issues for years. Those suffering from asthma have long sought ways to improve their breathing and reduce the frequency with which they experience asthma attacks. Because of the way that chiropractic focuses on the spine and central nervous system, it’s a fantastic option for improving lung health.

How Chiropractic Impacts the Respiratory System

The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, and it connects to the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves throughout your body. Imagine the spinal cord as the roots of a tree—a tree that contains all the nerves in your body. If the roots are unhealthy, that impacts the rest of the body’s nerves and, therefore, the entire health of the body.

Subluxations, or misalignments, frequently occur in the spine due to falls, poor posture, injuries, trauma, repetitive motions, and more. Even if you are extremely careful all the time, chances are you have a misalignment somewhere, likely due to a sleeping position, staring down at a phone repeatedly, or twisting or lifting in an awkward way. Misalignments are when vertebrae are twisted, shifted, or slightly out of place. They put pressure on the spinal cord and other nearby nerves and tissues, which impacts the communication throughout the nervous system.

When they’re in the middle and upper back, misalignments can cause nerve interference and interrupt the normal functions of the respiratory system. Think about it this way: your brain sends signals down your spinal cord and into your lungs to ensure proper breathing. But your spine is misaligned and the communication gets interrupted. So instead of your lungs receiving the message to breathe properly, they get a message that things are awry and breathing must be intensified in order to gather enough oxygen. This causes an asthma attack and the person needs to use an inhaler in order to get their breathing back to normal.

Here at Waypoint Chiropractic in Bozeman, Dr. Cary Gentry is a neurologically-based chiropractor who aims to get to the root cause of all health issues, pain, and diseases. If you or a loved one is dealing with asthma, schedule a consultation today to learn about how chiropractic care can help. In addition to helping with asthma, Dr. Gentry and the team at Waypoint Chiropractic can assist with digestive issues, blood pressure, ear infections, fibromyalgia, and far more.

Sources

Bronfort G, Evans RL, Kubic P, Filkin P. (2001). “Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study.” J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 6.369-77. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11514813/

Kaminskyj, A., Frazier, M., Johnstone, K., & Gleberzon, B. J. (2010).” Chiropractic care for patients with asthma: A systematic review of the literature.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 54(1): 24–32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829683

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