Hay Fever and Chiropractic Benefits

This is a guest post by Dr. James A Devine DC, from Seattle about Hay Fever.

The return of blue skies and warmer weather has me excited, but those suffering from seasonal allergies may share my enthusiasm for the arrival of spring and hay fever with it.  Along with daffodils and tulips, springtime brings pollen that once again has hay-fever sufferers sneezing and wiping their eyes.

The body’s immune system, in addition to preventing disease and infection and combating stress, deals with the invasion of foreign substances such as pollution, dust and pollen.  Allergic reactions happen when the body’s immune system overreacts to allergens and overproduces neutralizing chemicals such as histamines to correct the problem.  An immune system not operating effectively will often over-react to pollen and other irritants.

Traditional allergy treatments only deal with the symptoms and do nothing to address the cause. It is a little known, but true fact, that antihistamines can cause heart problems, especially if taken in conjunction with alcohol and sedatives.  Chiropractic care, on the other hand, releases stress on a patient’s nervous system and allows the immune system to operate more effectively.

A healthy, stress-free body is more capable of fighting off allergens without the use of harmful medications. Subluxations or misaligned spinal vertebra put pressure on a nerve, which places stress on the nervous system and make the body more susceptible to disease.  Chiropractic adjustments remove subluxations and the resulting the nerve interference and allow the immune system to work optimally.  Free from nervous system stress, the body can work more efficiently to neutralize allergy-causing chemicals in the environment.

Symptoms that you might be suffering from seasonal allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Congestion
• Sinus headaches
• Sinus pressure

Chiropractic is a conservative, natural and effective, drug-free approach for treating seasonal allergies.  If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, it is a great time to visit your chiropractor!