Are you experiencing a cold that never goes away? Or the last cold you had never left? You may have a common condition known as sinusitis. Sinus is not a new infection in the U.S, more than three million people aged between 18-45 are affected each year.
But what does the chiropractic practice have to do with sinus? Well. While a large percentage of clients who walk into a chiropractic facility is looking for relief in low back pain; chiropractors still have a deep understanding of relieving sinus pressure.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is a common inflammation common in people between the age of 18 to 45. It is the inflammation of the sinuses – hollow cavities in the cheekbones, behind your nose and around your eyes. They contain mucus that filters moistens, and warms the air we breathe in.
When fluid blocks the sinuses, it often leads to an infection that causes a lot of pain and discomfort. Individuals can be affected by sinusitis through common cold, allergies, among other things. Depending on the condition of the patient, the infection could be either bacterial or viral. If the patient is sick for less than ten days, and they are not getting any worse; the condition is likely viral. On the other hand, if the patient has not improved in 10 days or got worse after it started to get better, then the infection is likely bacterial.
The Chiropractic Connection
Preventive medicine is often overlooked in the United States. And while most individuals take this for granted, building a routine of healthcare around maintaining wellness compared to treating an illness is very important when it comes to a wellness lifestyle. Chiropractic care focuses on subluxation treatment that works to maintain a nervous system that functions optimally.
The subluxations are a misalignment of one or more spinal vertebrae that create irritation or stress to nearby nerves, hindering the optimal function of the nervous system.
Building a Robust Immune System
Recent studies suggest that the immune and the nervous system are connected in several ways, including the adrenal glands. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there is some scientific evidence that the human brain sends messages directly to the nerve cells in your immune system. Based on recent studies, this link supports the chiropractic theory of Subluxations removal through adjustments to help the body function optimally.
More recent studies have revealed that there is a connection between chiropractic care and boosted immunity, with further research on the same in progress.
What to Expect When You Visit a Chiropractor with a Sinusitis Condition
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time walking into a chiropractic facility; your doctor will need to understand your sinus history. Some of the questions you answer will help the chiropractor know the root cause of your problem, whether it is a deviated septum, allergy, or a common cold.
Chiropractic manipulation
Your chiropractor will perform a hands-on chiropractic manipulation in the sinus areas, facial area, the vertebrae in your neck; or behind your ears to influence the muscle in your face to encourage the relief of pressure to the sinuses to help in drainage.
Activator method
Another popular method that will likely be used by your chiropractor is the activator method. Your doctor will use a small hand-held pressurized tool to pinpoint the trigger regions in the patient’s face; that will loosen the sinuses allowing the drainage of mucus blockage.
Chiropractic Preventive Therapy
Chiropractic care can also be utilized as preventive care, especially for individuals with chronic sinus conditions. Since your nervous system controls every aspect of your wellbeing, improving the signals from your nervous system to your respiratory system connected to your sinuses might be able to stimulate drainage, preventing mucus build-up and causing problems. This preventive method is useful since it focuses on solving the root cause rather than the symptoms.