NUCCA Chiropractic and Asthma

How the NUCCA Chiropractic Method Can Help You

Learn more about how AlternaHealth, NUCCA & Atlanta Chiropractor Dr. Friedman can help with your asthma »

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult. With asthma, there is inflammation of the air passages resulting in a temporary narrowing of the airways carrying oxygen to the lungs. This results in asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Some people refer to asthma as "bronchial asthma."

Medical Approach to Asthma

Asthma treatment is aimed at avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants and controlling symptoms and airway inflammation through medication.

There are two basic kinds of medication for the treatment of asthma:

• Long–term control asthma medications are used on a regular basis to prevent asthma attacks, not for treatment during an attack. Types include:
  • Inhaled steroids (such as Azmacort, Vanceril, AeroBid, Flovent) prevent inflammation
  • Leukotriene inhibitors (such as Singulair and Accolate)
  • Anti–IgE therapy (Xolair), a medicine given by injection to patients with more severe asthma
  • Long-acting bronchodilators (such as Serevent) help open airways
  • Cromolyn sodium (Intal) or nedocromil sodium
  • Aminophylline or theophylline (not used as frequently as in the past)
  • Sometimes a combination of steroids and bronchodilators are used, using either separate inhalers or a single inhaler (such as Advair Diskus).
• Quick relief, or rescue medications are used to relieve asthma symptoms during an asthma attack. These include:
  • Short–acting bronchodilators (inhalers), such as Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex and others.
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, given by mouth or into a vein.

The NUCCA Approach to Asthma

Because the immune and respiratory systems are closely connected, it is common for asthma and allergies to occur together. Normal function of the immune and respiratory systems are controlled and coordinated through proper communication between the brain and spinal cord. More specifically, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a specific division within the body's nervous system that is responsible for organizing the function of the organs, glands, and blood vessels. If the ANS becomes irritated because of a misalignment of the cervical spine, the immune response can be exaggerated and respiration may be affected. This exaggerated immune response commonly occurs in asthma sufferers and can cause sudden attacks.

With NUCCA chiropractic, specific imaging studies of the cervical (upper neck) region are taken to locate a misalignment of the vertebrae. Very specific gentle adjustments are made, by hand, to correct the misaligned vertebrae in the neck. After the adjustment has been made, follow-up imaging studies are taken to confirm a successful spinal correction.

Read testimonials from real patients, on how NUCCA Chiropractic helped them! »