Asthma in children

     Asthma is a growing problem in the U.S. and elsewhere. A recent Australian study revealed that while only 10% of children had asthma in the early 1980's, that number swelled to 20% recently. Here in the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported "From 1980 to 1996, asthma prevalence among children increased by an average of 4.3% per year, from 3.6% to 6.2%." It is probably the most common cause for prolonged school absence in the primary grades. 

     The CDC's outlook for asthma: Currently, there are no preventive measures or cure for asthma; however, children and adolescents who have asthma can still lead quality, productive lives if they control their asthma. Asthma can be controlled by taking medication and by avoiding contact with environmental "triggers" for asthma.

     But should parents be so pessimistic about asthma? Here are the facts about asthma:

     Asthma is a problem that involves restricted airways in the lungs due to spasm of the muscles of the airway tubes called "bronchioles." There is also often inflammation of the mucus membranes of the bronchioles, which further blocks the airways. Asthma sufferers are thought to have "hyper reactive" bronchioles. In other words for some reason when they are irritated or "triggered" they have an exaggerated response and in stead of slightly closing down and then opening back up after a triggering event, they clamp down and stay closed for extended periods of time. The result is the child cannot exhale very well and begins to wheeze. In some cases the condition can be very severe and even life threatening.

     Fortunately these severe cases are the exception not the norm.

     Episodes of asthma are triggered by certain factors. Among them are environmental factors, which the CDC reports are " cockroaches, dust mites, furry pets, mold, tobacco smoke, and certain chemicals."

     Other factors are exercise, cold air and emotional stress. Often children may be exposed to a  cold or flu virus and then it triggers their lings to tighten and they end up with an "asthma attack."

     But how is asthma related to chiropractic care? The bronchioles of the lungs are controlled by the nervous system. Certain nerves are responsible for closing down the airways and others are responsible for opening them back up. So what would happen if the nerves that open the airways up are interfered with and cannot do their job? The result would be closed airways causing difficulty breathing and a wheeze.

           An Dr. Pottenger, a physician in the U.K., years ago made a discovery that many of his patients with breathing problems like asthma or chronic bronchitis, had a dishing in of the spine between the shoulder blades. This finding was later to become known as a "Pottenger's Saucer." Later in the U.S., chiropractic doctors analyzing patients with asthma correlated the "Pottenger's saucer" to a specific form of spinal misalignment called an "anteriority." A situation where the spinal bones become misplaced forward or in the "anterior" direction. Spinal manipulation aimed at restoring normal alignment caused the saucer to disappear over time and with it the asthma symptoms.

     Today, many children enjoy better breathing, fewer episodes of asthma and less dependence on drugs thanks to chiropractic treatment.

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