How Does A Chiropractor Treat Cardiopulmonary Conditions
Chiropractors are part of a functional medicine, which is a “systems-biology” approach that focuses on conditions that relate to the skeletal structure of the body. However chiropractors are not only focused on the skeletal and musculature structure, but on easing pain when they can.
When a chiropractor is treating a cardiopulmonary disease, they’re often treating a disease that is complex and can be hard to diagnose. Not only is this a subset of diseases that are hard to diagnose, but even after someone is diagnosed they may still experience problems. That is why cardiopulmonary rehabilitation may be necessary for someone with a disease that falls into the cardiopulmonary umbrella of diseases.
What Kind of Diseases Are Cardiopulmonary?
Well, the term “cardiopulmonary disease” implies that the range of conditions will affect the heart and lungs. Because these organs are closely connected, an issue with one of them can cause issues with the other. An example is when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, movement in the lungs is reduced and you are left with shortness of breath.
Common cardiopulmonary diseases include the below list, but remember, this list is not exhaustive:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Congestive heart failure
- Emphysema
- Asthma
- Lupus
If you have ever experienced a heart attack, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation may be useful to you. When it comes to symptoms of cardiopulmonary diseases, they’re wide and varied, but here are a few:
- Bluish skin on the hands or the feet.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- High blood pressure.
- Shortness of breath.
- Suddenly sweating.
- Wheezing
Treatments vary, but one treatment that is often recommended for those that it may be a good fit for is rehabilitation with a chiropractor. That may be the last place you think of going to for treatment, but there is evidence proving that functional medicine and chiropractic treatment can help their symptoms.
Any good chiropractor that handles cardiopulmonary diseases is going to know that they can improve the life of a patient who has a cardiopulmonary disease by reducing inflammation in the lungs, which allows greater airflow to the lungs and gets rid of pressure that is placed on the heart by the lungs not receiving enough air.
A good chiropractor, like the ones at AmeriWell Clinics, knows that sometimes there are misalignments in the spine that may cause pressure on the nerves which correspond to your lungs and heart. These chiropractors are going to have training to find those subluxations and treat them accordingly.
Patients may also receive an adjustment in their initial visit to a chiropractor, and they may receive exercise regimens that they should do, as well as nutritional counseling to help change their lifestyle, and in-depth lifestyle adjustments. Prescribed chiropractic exercises shouldn’t be mistaken for physical therapy, though you may work with both a physical therapist and a chiropractor and the exercises may overlap in places.
Reach out to a chiropractor of your choosing to be evaluated and adjusted, and seek a pain-free lifestyle today.