Soothing your Spring Allergies with Chiropractic Care
May 5, 2016Allergies are among the most common chronic conditions worldwide, so it’s no surprise that 10-30% of the world’s population suffers from hay fever, also known at allergic rhinitis. At this time of year, people everywhere are suffering from the effects of hay fever, from runny noses to itchy eyes and attacks of sneezing. Because hay fever causes the body to become hypersensitive to pollen, the springtime weather of new growth and blooming flowers equates to handfuls of tissue and red, watery eyes for many people.
It doesn’t have to be that way, however. Did you know about soothing your spring allergies with chiropractic care? We’ll go into more detail on that later. First, what are allergies? Why do they affect so many people at this time of year? Read on to find out.
Soothing your Spring Allergies with Chiropractic Care
What are allergies?
Allergies are hypersensitive reactions. They are the result of an exaggerated response by the immune system to substances that it recognizes as foreign. In the case of hay fever, the foreign body is pollen. The body produces a specific antibody as a response to allergens such as pollen. That antibody (known at immunoglobulin E) travels to special immune cells called mast cells. Mast cells use receptors on the surface of their membranes to recognize whether the foreign substance is harmful or helpful to the body. The cells release histamines when a harmful substance is detected, and histamines cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as sneezing and itchy, watery eyes.
Over the counter medications help to provide relief from symptoms, and certain medications are life-saving when a severe allergic reaction is taking place. Chiropractic care is another type of treatment, but one designed to treat the reason for the allergic reaction, rather than the symptoms themselves. While there’s nothing wrong with using medication to treat symptoms, figuring out the reason for the allergy in the first place is highly impactful, going a long way towards improving overall health and wellness.
How does chiropractic care help?
The immune system and respiratory system both depend on the right communication between the brain and spinal cord for control and coordination of the proper functions. Immunity can be compromised when there are interruptions in communication, due to the misalignment of the neck. The upper cervical (neck) joint especially can exaggerate and even produce allergic symptoms.
We can help restore alignment of the neck, thus opening the pathways of communication between the brain and the spine, through chiropractic adjustments and/or spinal decompression. Chiropractic adjustments may also help to regulate the amount of histamines produced in the spring time (and other high-allergy seasons).
Scientific research shows that, though chiropractic care does not improve all allergy cases, it is without a doubt beneficial for some. Additionally, going beyond chiropractic adjustments, we are also able to help determine whether lifestyle and dietary changes would lessen your allergic reactions.
Are you one of the 7.8 million adults in the United States suffering through hay fever this spring? Chiropractic care might be the solution. Call Van Ness Chiropractic at 847-842-8070 to schedule an appointment today.
