With the changing season upon us, people across the country are running to their local pharmacy to stock up on antihistamines and other drugs to relieve these well-known symptoms that creep up on us every year. Watery eyes, running noses, itching, and sneezing are just a few of the indicators that they are back – the dreaded allergies.
In 2016 it was determined that as many as 40 percent of people in developed countries suffer from at least one allergic condition. This ongoing rise is believed to be due to environmental changes such as rise in temperature around the globe and an increase in air pollution. Worldwide, the population spends over $8 billion annually on drugs to relieve allergy symptoms.
Allergy medications are reliable and usually do the trick to relieve short-term symptoms. However, for the sufferers of allergies who do not want to completely rely on medication, chiropractic care might be a fantastic alternative. Before throwing away your antihistamines, however, it is important to take a look at how chiropractic care relieves allergy symptoms, and if it could work for you.
What Are Allergies?
Allergies are the hypersensitive immune responses to allergens. Allergens are, essentially, any substances that comes in contact with the body that your body is allergic to. While these substances can be found in food, drinks, and the environment and will not harm one individual, they will cause an allergic reaction in another.
Common allergens include pet dander, pollen, and bee venom. If you are allergic to one of these substances, your immune system reacts to it as if it is a pathogen, or harmful substance, and will attempt to destroy it.
Common Symptoms
When a person with an allergy comes into contact with that allergen, they do not always experience a reaction immediately. Instead, the immune system will build up sensitivity, and eventually begin overreacting to it.
When the immune system finally reacts to an allergen, inflammation and irritation will occur. Different allergens will evoke unique symptoms. However, the most common symptoms include the following:
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Itchy eyes and nose
- Cough
- Sneezing
Allergies and Stress
According to recent medical studies, stress plays a huge role in the mechanism behind allergies. Interestingly, majority of allergic conditions are considered psychosomatic, with symptoms worsening as levels of psychosocial stress increase.
With the nervous system and immune system being interconnected, it is easy to see why perceived stress and the body’s corresponding immune changes would be linked. Stress and allergies actually provoke a similar inflammatory response – and that stress further aggravates the immune system’s response to allergens.
On top of this, the hormone cortisol works to subdue the body’s response to allergies and lessen symptoms. If your body is experiencing chronic stress, the adrenal glands which produce cortisol become worn out, and with a shortage of cortisol, allergy symptoms become more severe.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Allergy Sufferers?
The immune system and the nervous system’s close bond to one another is the reasoning behind chiropractic care to relieve allergy symptoms. Through the improvement of communication between the brain and the spinal cord, the body’s reaction to allergens can be regulated and symptoms can be reduced.
First and foremost, a professional chiropractor will be able to strengthen your immune system by correcting misalignments in the spine. These misalignments often disrupt the brains communication with the rest of the body. Through manipulation of the joints and the soft tissue, pathways between the brain and spine can be opened up again and the body’s alignment can be restored.
Chiropractors will also help patients regulate stress by strengthening the adrenal glands, and therefore giving the body the opportunity to better moderate allergic reactions. The adrenal glands are directly fed by the spinal nerves, so by properly aligning the spine, the amount of cortisol the body produces can be regulated. This can help alleviate allergy symptoms.
Finally, chiropractors can offer advice on dietary and lifestyle alterations which may be playing a part in aggravating allergy symptoms. These foods and environmental factors can boost the patient’s health and lessen the severity of allergy symptoms.
If you or someone you love are suffering from allergies and seeking alternative methods to relieve symptoms, chiropractic care is an option worth exploring. Contact the professionals at ChiroCare of Florida today and learn more about how they can help.
Call 877-392-4402 to book your consultation.
