Sprout Family Chiropractic

View Original

Nasal Congestion

EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NASAL CONGESTION

Imagine that every single time the weather changes even just a little bit, your child’s sinuses and nasal passage get jammed up, and they’re instantly congested. Now imagine that every single time they’re around another child who is even slightly teething, battling a cold, or has some seasonal allergies, they get instant nasal congestion as well. 

Well, for many families, this isn’t an imaginary story; it’s real life. When you consider how many things can trigger nasal congestion and a stuffy nose and combine it with the factors that first cause and create these problems in both kids and adults, you’ll see why the action steps and natural solutions detailed below are so desirable and in high demand for countless families! 

Let’s get your family some relief as you read more and learn what’s really going on with nasal congestion and how we can help free up those sinuses without all the nasty short and long-term side effects that drugs and medications create!

WHAT IS NASAL CONGESTION?

Nasal congestion is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is the feeling of stuffiness or blockage in the nose, which can hinder proper breathing and cause discomfort. There are two main types of nasal congestion: dry and wet congestion.

Dry congestion, known as rhinitis, involves irritation and swelling of the nostrils. This can be caused by various factors, such as infections, allergens, or irritants. On the other hand, wet congestion, known as rhinorrhea, is characterized by a thin, mostly clear fluid running from the nose. This is often associated with viral infections like the common cold.

WHAT CAUSES NASAL CONGESTION?

Understanding the causes of nasal congestion is crucial in finding the right care options. While seasonal allergies and other illnesses are common culprits, several other triggers can lead to nasal congestion:

  • Environmental Factors: Exposure to smoke, fumes, or other substances can irritate the nasal passages and cause swelling.

  • Medications: Some medications may induce congestion as a side effect. It’s essential to discuss such concerns with a healthcare provider.

  • Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations, especially during pregnancy or menstruation, can trigger nasal congestion.

But as we always like to do here on PX Docs, let’s dig even deeper and investigate why millions of kids and parents alike struggle to properly clear and drain their sinuses. 

Could there be a literal biomechanical or structural dysfunction essentially creating a “roadblock” or “clogged pipe” so that things like pollen, smoke, dust, or even viruses and bacteria can’t get through and properly cleared through the body? 

SUBLUXATION, SINUSES AND NASAL CONGESTION 

While traditional approaches will always blame the “outside” invader such as pollen and cold viruses for nasal congestion, common colds, and really illnesses of all kinds, we take a different approach and look at things from the “inside out” instead. 

We ask the tough yet important questions such as – why do some kids exposed to the same cold virus or seasonal allergies get nasal congestion and come down with a cold, while others do not? Is it genetics that are responsible for the different outcomes? 

Same as they do with most conditions, pediatricians and medical doctors won’t look outside of the typical genetic theory or germ theory, but when you really study how good health and physiology work, there is much more to the story with nasal congestion, seasonal allergies, chest congestion, and all immune or respiratory challenges. 

In nearly every single child or adult struggling with nasal congestion in our practice over the past 15 years, I’ve found the same culprit again and again – subluxation. While nasal congestion, allergies, and the common cold are common terms every household is familiar with, it’s likely subluxation is a new term for you. 

Simply put, subluxation means stress, tension, and congestion. Subluxation is present when there are these three (3) elements at play: 

  1. Misalignment of joints and structures within the spine or even cranial bones (facial + nasal bones included) 

  2. Reduced range of motion or mobility of those joints, muscles, and tissues 

  3. Neurological interference and imbalance (called dysautonomia

Each of those three (3) factors, in turn, contributes greatly to nasal congestion, chest congestion, and other similar health challenges due to these three (3) issues that arise from subluxation: 

  1. The misalignments can literally close off or limit the available space for mucus and fluid to move through and drain properly. 

  2. The reduced range of motion and fixations prevent the mucus and lymphatic fluid from being moved along and “massaged” through the system appropriately. 

  3. The neurological imbalance and dysautonomia create more neuromuscular constriction and tension and also leave the body in a sympathetic dominant and pro-inflammatory state, increasing mucus production and weakening the immune response. 

TREATMENTS FOR NASAL CONGESTION

If you or your child have been experiencing nasal congestion, it’s likely you’ve already exhausted the at-home and medical treatment options for it. Things like a Neti Pot, Nasal Aspirator, NoseFrida, and so forth provide some temporary and mild relief but do nothing to get to the root cause. 

From there, medications like decongestants, antihistamines, and corticosteroids that are either over-the-counter or prescribed by the pediatrician also do not address the root cause and come with plenty of side effects – including weakening and further imbalancing the immune system over time. 

That is why today, millions of parents turn to Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Adjustments to help address the root cause and subluxation head-on and stimulate and improve sinus, throat, and chest congestion naturally! 

Not only do our adjustments help drain the sinuses and reduce congestion in the short term, but they actually look to build up and strengthen the immune system over time, leading to a stronger and more robust immune system for your child down the road. If you’re sick and tired of seeing your little one be constantly sick and congested, or maybe that is the case for your entire family, visit our directory right away and contact your local PX Doctor immediately to begin care and get to work on clearing that sinus congestion naturally and without drugs!

Ready to get to the root cause? Click the button below to get started!