Asthma involves both the lungs and the immune system and has become the most common and costly illness in the United States. An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from asthma at an annual cost of over $13 billion. Asthma accounts for more hospitalizations than any other childhood disease and more than 10 million missed school days each year. Asthma is one of the few diseases with an increasing death rate and causes close to 5,000 deaths annually in the United States alone.
Even though asthma is a common condition, if is far from simple. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrow and obstructed due to a combination of muscle spasm, inflammation, and excess mucus production. The symptoms, which vary among sufferers, can include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and chronic (regular) coughing.
Asthma attacks are triggered by any condition that causes inflammation in the airways. Those triggers can be very different among asthma sufferers but usually include irritants like the following: dust mites, animal dander, pollen, mold, pollution, smoke, exercise, cold air, or intense emotions.
Asthma & Allergies
Many people with asthma also have allergies, which, although related, are not the same thing. Allergens like pollen, mold, animal dander and dust mites can make asthma symptoms worse by increasing the inflammation in the airways and making them more sensitive.
Common Medical Treatments For Asthma
The most common medical treatments for asthma include anti-inflammatory drugs, inhaled corticosteroids, or long-acting bronchodilators. These may include Singulair, Albuterol, Ventolin, Atrovent and Prednisone. According to the Physican’s Desk Reference, these drugs can have dangerous side effects.
Possible Causes Of Asthma
While the exact cause of asthma is still unknown, many researchers believe that asthma is caused by a disturbance of the respiratory center within the brain stem. In fact, one study suggests this is the “common denominator” and basic underlying mechanism in all varieties of asthma. This disturbance is believed to cause the muscles of the airway to contract thus restricting the flow of air in the lungs.
Upper Cervical Care & The Brain Stem
Misalignments of the top two vertebrae (bones) in the cervical spine (neck) can cause disturbances within the brain stem and respiratory center. Multiple studies have shown that upper cervical care dramatically improves lung function. A recent published report documents that each asthma patient in the study improved between 87 and 100 percent with upper cervical care.
The Brain Stem & Breathing
The nervous system is a very complex system designed to control and coordinate all of the body’s vital functions. One of those functions is to control the respiratory system and lungs. Consider that you can go up a flight of stairs, run, swim, or ride a bike without even thinking about your breathing. That’s because the respiratory center, housed in the brain stem, is responsible for adjusting the rate of breathing to the demands of the body so that proper oxygen and carbon dioxide levels remain unchanged even during strenuous exercise.