Most North American residents know the pain of sinus inflammation and congestion, but did you know chiropractic care can help alleviate your condition? Sinus problems come from many sources, and the best solutions attack the problem at multiple points. Chiropractic care addresses potential underlying factors and works to stimulate your body to work with rather than against you.
Causes of Sinus Trouble
Your sinuses are hollow spaces between the bones of your head. As part of your upper respiratory system, they allow air to flow through your nostrils and down your throat. Your sinuses also connect to your ears, which is why many patients with severe colds often suffer from ear infections as well. Your sinuses have a natural mucus coating that actually helps you breathe easier. In addition to protecting the delicate flesh beneath, the mucus collects irritants and pollutants, preventing them from reaching your lungs, which are far more susceptible to infection. Sinus problems begin when your sinuses produce too much mucus, or the lining becomes inflamed. In some cases, these problems coincide, and one often leads to the other.
Many things cause sinus trouble, but changing seasons increase your likelihood of sinus problems. In the spring and summer, temperatures and pressures fluctuate, and the air fills with pollen, mold, and other allergens. These particles irritate the mucus lining of your sinuses, and if you happen to be allergic, then your reaction will be worse. Your sinuses produce extra mucus to fight off the influx of allergens, but your body may produce too much mucus, which makes it incredibly difficult to breathe. The mucus gathers in the hollow sinus cavities, slowly building pressure in areas meant to remain open.
Sinus problems are a particularly nasty issue since most people cannot tell for certain why they suffer from them. Often, problems stem from multiple causes, including mild allergies, sensitivity to barometric pressure shifts, and even misaligned muscles. Fortunately, your chiropractor can help.
Chiropractic Benefits
Chiropractic adjustments often help sinus patients escape pain. Although these adjustments are made in the back, some nerves that link to the sinuses run through this area. Adjusting the vertebrae can solve preexisting nerve problems and relax muscles that connect to the sinuses. By relaxing these areas, you take pressure off of the sinuses, which may help reduce swelling and allow for healthy draining.
Acupuncture and acupressure also improve sinus conditions. They target key nerves that help reduce inflammation and swelling. These practices are great for treating the intense headaches that often come with sinusitis. Paired with simple exercises at home, such as pulling on the lobe of your ear, these treatments can be highly effective.
Recurring sinus problems limit patients’ ability to relax, work, and enjoy life. While regular treatments, such as antibiotics, are no longer as effective as they once were, chiropractic care offers alternative solutions. Holistic care demands careful scrutiny of problems and their causes. While chiropractic care may not appear to treat the symptoms directly, it has helped many sinusitis sufferers in the past and will continue to do so long after antibiotics have lost their potency.
