Allergy Symptoms & Chiropractic Care
As summer gives way to fall, seasonal allergies can really get you down. Whether you have a few sniffles and some sneezing, or you are down for the count with every terrible allergy symptom known to man, it can make life pretty unbearable.
There is no shortage of allergy medications on the market, but they come with their own issues. The majority of them cause drowsiness and other unpleasant side effects, leaving you barely able to function. Those that are made from a “non-drowsy” formula sound great, but if you have certain health conditions, like high blood pressure, you are out of luck and stuck either taking the ones that make you sleep or dealing with your allergies sans medication.
That’s no way to live.
What are Allergies?
When your immune system produces histamines in response to an allergen that you encounter, the physiological reaction that you experience is broadly referred to as allergies or hay fever. The allergens may be simple substances that normally do not affect people, but when your body is out of balance, it can cause a variety of problems.
Symptoms of allergies include:
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes
- Coughing or scratchy throat
- Skin rash or hives
- Swelling
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Anaphylaxis, caused by severe, life threatening allergies, can include swelling of the airways, tongue and throat, and the inability to breathe due to a blocked airway (amongst other dangerous symptoms).
The allergens can be something you come in contact with like poison ivy, something you breathe in, like mold or dust, or it can be something you ingest, like strawberries or peanuts. Different people will have different allergies, but those who are allergic to the same things may not have the same reaction. Often a doctor or allergist will diagnose your allergies.
Chiropractic Care for Allergies
Chiropractic care has been found to be very effective for relieving allergy symptoms and even stopping allergies at their source. It reduces the severity of allergy symptoms as well as the frequency of occurrence. It does not work like allergy medications which have an anti-histamine effect and only work as a short-term fix for your allergy symptoms.
Chiropractic care helps your body become more balanced so that it is better equipped for combating allergies at the source. When your spine is not aligned it can impact your nervous system leading to a variety of problems – including allergies. Your immune system can be affected, causing it to malfunction.
A chiropractor can help relieve the stress on your nervous system by aligning your spine. This takes the pressure off of nerves, allowing your immune system to function at a more optimal level. This makes it easier for your body to ward off infections while recognizing allergens as harmless.
When your immune system encounters allergens it doesn’t overreact to them. Instead, the reaction is much more subdued, or even nonexistent. Chiropractic has also been found to help asthma patients breathe easier. Asthma symptoms are diminished.
Chiropractic care is more than just spinal manipulation, though. It promotes whole body wellness. Patients are taught exercise, stress relief, and nutrition so that the entire system is treated. The whole body treatment plan for chiropractic patients will help you be allergy free in a short time.
It is important to follow your chiropractic plan thoroughly and consistently. Get plenty of rest and take time to destress. The more you can relax and take care of yourself, the healthier you will be overall. Chiropractic care can help so many health conditions; it can actually make you healthier. If you are struggling with allergies, give chiropractic care a try – you just might be surprised.
I hope you found this article helpful and gained some new knowledge from it.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Shannon Connor
