Chiropractic Helps Relieve COPD
The COPD Foundation reports that more than 24 million people in the U.S. currently suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a disease in which the airways are hindered by some type of issue with the air sacs in the lungs, the walls between the sacs, or the production of an excessive amount of mucus. Ultimately, this makes it harder to breathe, usually resulting in the person spending more time coughing, experiencing tightness in the chest, and having a chronic shortness of breath.
At a minimum, these symptoms can hinder your participation in everyday activities. However, COPD is also the third leading cause of death in the U.S., which makes finding effective treatment remedies critical to helping many people live a longer, healthier life. While there are several different options to consider--ranging from medication to physical activity training to surgery--one systematic review has found that chiropractic care may just provide some relief.
This review was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and it covered six different studies which involved people with COPD who engaged in chiropractic care. The intention of each was to determine what effect, if any, this particular remedy had on the person's ability to breathe. What researchers found was that five of the six studies reported positive results when it came to the participant's lung function and exercise performance after engaging in spinal manipulation therapy.
Of course, it also helps to quit smoking as this is the number one cause of COPD. Additionally, air quality matters too so, if possible, try to spend a majority of your time in a clean air environment. And if you work around different pollutants, take proper precautions to protect your lungs while on the job and you may lower your risk of developing this potentially life-threatening condition.
References
COPD Foundation. COPD Statistics Across America. Retrieved from http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/COPD-Facts/Statistics.aspx on January 6, 2016.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What Is COPD? Updated July 31, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/ on January 6, 2016.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Treatment Options. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/copd/breathing-better/treatment-options.htm on January 6, 2016.
Wearing J, Beaumont S, Forbes D, Brown B, Engel R. The Use of Spinal Manipulative Therapy in the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2015 (December 24)
