Asthma has become a large health concern for children in recent years. Over the past 20 years the incidence of asthma has doubled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 1998, approximately 17,299,000 people in the United States, or 6.4% of the population, with cases among very young children up 160%. As reported in the June 16, 1999 issue of JAMA, the CDC also noted that between 1980 and 1994, the number of people self-reporting asthma grew 75%.

In a study conducted in 1996 by the Michigan Chiropractic Council (MCC), a panel of doctors performed an out-come assessment study to test the qualitative and quantitative effectiveness of chiropractic care on children with asthma. The high demand of parents seeking alternative care for pediatric asthma was shown by the overwhelming interest in the study. More than 500 parents called the MCC seeking to get their child involved in the chiropractic study.

The study, which took place during May and June of 1996, examined the chiropractic effectiveness in correcting the cause of asthma in patients from birth to age 17. The average age of the participant was 10 years.  "After 30 days of chiropractic health care, patients averaged only one attack, whereas prior to the study they were experiencing more than four attacks," said MCC Dr. Bob Graham, who directed the study.  "Medications, which can be costly, were decreased by nearly 70 percent. Finally, patient satisfaction was rated 8.5 on a scale of 10."  More than 70 chiropractors from 62 cities in Michigan studied more than 80 children suffering from asthma.

The results achieved through Chiropractic treatment continue to be nothing short of amazing. In this case, a 7-year-old girl who had been suffering from asthma since age 2, now has a completely new lifestyle thanks entirely to the discovery of the cause and subsequent Chiropractic treatment.

Case Study: Chronic Cough, Asthma Handled for Girl with Chiropractic Treatment

A recent case study presented in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented how Chiropractic treatment changed this young girl’s life. Not only did her asthmatic problems lessen beginning with her first adjustment, but she was able to discontinue many of her medications.

The study noted that the girl had been diagnosed with asthma at age 4. Her mom reported that anything from dust to cold drafts could trigger an asthmatic attack. Medical treatment for this condi­tion included using three different inhalers a total of 24 times each day. Additionally, the child suf­fered from a cough and persistent fevers. Medical prescriptions for these conditions required more than 10 other medications in an attempt to manage the problems. Coughing, wheezing and daily asthma attacks were the order of the day and prevented her from participating in physical activities.

The results the girl experienced almost immediately from Chiropractic treatment could be con­sidered nothing short of phenomenal. Following a Chiropractic exam that showed the presence of vertebral subluxations (partial dislocations of the vertebral column), her care began. She received a total of 2-3 adjustments per week over a 3 week period.

The study noted that the girl experienced a noticeable reduction in her symptoms the evening following her very first adjustment when her coughing stopped. Over the course of the 3 weeks of treatment, her wheezing stopped and her chest tightness subsided. By the end of treatment, asthma attacks were no longer occurring. The mother also reported that at the same time the girl was able to increase her physical activity free of the usual asthma symptoms.

Three months following the girl’s start of Chiropractic care, an examination was performed by the girl’s medical doctor who documented her significant improvement in respiratory function. The pediatrician was elated with the progress, giving full credit to the medications. The girl’s mother then explained that several of the medications had been discontinued and that the girl had received Chiropractic treatment. The child’s doctor chose not to approve of the new treatment pattern and ter­minated his care.

In presenting their findings, the study authors encouraged Chiropractic examination for children and adults with these types of persistent health conditions. “Perhaps this case will encourage future testing and screening for subluxations which could potentially cause dyspoiesis (a disorder of this nature), resulting in a variety of symptoms that include asthma.”

Source: Kid Chiropractic. “Severe Asthma with Chronic Cough Helped by Chiropractor, A Case Study,” December 2007. www.kidchiropractic.com and The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, November 2007. http://www.jvsr.com/abstracts/index.asp?id=319.