Congestion
Helping Congestion with Chiropractic Care
If you’ve ever experienced the discomfort of congestion or a sinus infection, you’ve likely sought relief with over-the-counter medications or antibiotics. While these medicines offer relief, many have unpleasant side effects. Worse, most do not address the underlying problem, which can prolong the illness. If you’re looking for a natural way to support the body to heal, chiropractic care improves the body’s overall function and can allow sinuses to drain correctly. Your body is designed to defend against invading microorganisms and breathe freely again.
Causes
Your sinuses consist of eight hollow spaces within the bones of your forehead, cheeks, and temples. In a healthy state, these sinuses are open and lined with a protective mucus layer. This lining filters out dust, dirt, and other airborne pollutants while providing moisture to prevent dryness. However, issues arise when allergies, sinusitis, or sinus infections occur.
Allergies, infections, or even the common cold can cause the linings of your sinuses to become inflamed. This inflammation causes the tissue to swell up, leading to mucus buildup and impaired drainage. As a result, you may experience increased pressure in your sinuses, which comes with a long list of potential symptoms. We understand how frustrating and painful these symptoms can be, and it might be beneficial to consider visiting a chiropractor to relieve sinus pain.
Symptoms
- Pain and swelling around the eyes
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Coughing
- Chest congestion
- Phlegm
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- Nasal discharge
- Ear pain
- Fever and sweating
- Chills
- Disturbed sleep or unusual sleepiness
Possible Triggers
Nasal congestion can be triggered by various factors due to the important role your nose plays in protecting your body. When you breathe in air, your nose acts as a barrier, filtering out dirt, particles, and allergens. Inside your nose are tiny hair-like structures called cilia that trap these intruders and move them toward your nostrils.
Sneezing or blowing your nose helps to remove these invaders from your system. However, sometimes the nose’s defenses may not catch all the intruders, leading to inflammation and swelling of the nasal tissue. In response, your immune system produces mucus to flush out the invaders. The combination of swollen nasal tissue and excess mucus can block your nose, worsening your condition.
Help for Congestion at Innate Life Chiropractic
Sinus drainage improves when the spine and nervous system are open and fully connected. We aim to remove any interference in the central nervous system to promote proper function. The central nervous system plays a crucial role in overall body function, facilitating communication between the brain and the body’s systems.
Spinal misalignments can disrupt this communication and lead to various issues within the body, including sinus inflammation and pain. By correcting these misalignments, we not only reduce inflammation but also enhance immune system function. Communication between the brain and tissues surrounding the sinus cavities becomes more effective.
Gentle adjustments in the neck area specifically stimulate the nerves controlling the sinuses, relieving pressure, and improving drainage. People with sinus infections often have misalignments in their neck and back vertebrae, which can cause muscle swelling and hinder proper fluid drainage.
Getting Started
Chiropractic adjustments optimize the functioning of the central nervous system, allowing excess fluid to drain from the sinuses and promoting overall sinus health. If you’re feeling stuffed up, a chiropractic adjustment can help relax your head and neck, leading to better drainage and relief from sinus pressure.
