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Osteopathy & Asthma
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Asthma affects 5.4 million people in the UK including over a million children. For children, asthma is the leading cause of emergency admissions to hospital and time off school. Asthma is an over-reaction of your immune system to something that is not usually harmful. Typical symptoms include shortness of breath, a tight chest, wheezing and coughing. Asthma may be triggered by an allergen such as pollen or may be induced by stress, exercise or after a respiratory infection, such as a cold. Recent research has found a link between paracetamol (including Calpol) and childhood development of asthma, suggesting that parents should use this drug sparingly (only for fevers over 38.5c). Other risk factors include being born prematurely, bottle feeding, reflux, passive smoking and lack of exposure to bugs – the so-called “hygiene hypothesis”.
Asthma is normally well controlled by preventative and relieving inhalers prescribed by the GP. But it is not just the lungs that are affected by asthma. The whole chest is involved, including the spine, ribcage, diaphragm and chest muscles and, indirectly, the blood supply, nerves and drainage structures of the lungs. Managing asthma includes managing the health of the lung ‘container’ as well as the airways themselves.
Osteopaths are interested in the mechanics of breathing and can assess how well the ‘container’ is working. Often the whole chest will be over inflated as there tends to be more difficulty breathing out than breathing in. This in turn means that the diaphragm is held in the in-breath position and other muscles – especially in the neck and upper chest - have to be used to achieve effective breathing. The diaphragm not rising and falling properly also means that it doesn’t massage the gut so well, leading to constipation. The diaphragm is also important in helping blood to return to the heart by creating pressure differences between the chest and abdomen. This poor circulation adds to the problems of the asthmatic in fully oxygenating their tissues. The pumping action of the diaphragm is important to the flow of the lymphatic system too, affecting your body’s ability to defend itself against invasion by bacteria and viruses.
There is also plenty you can do to help yourself e.g. breathing exercises (including singing!), reducing your intake of processed foods and dairy products, eating plenty of fruit and veg, taking regular exercise (e.g. walking, swimming) and helping your immune system with vitamin C.
Click here for more information on Asthma.
Click here
for an article on paracetamol and childhood asthma.
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If you require any further information or wish to discuss any problems you may have, please contact the Church Street Practice on 01225 868282, or book in for a free 15 minute consultation.
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