Severe Asthma with Chronic Cough Helped by Chiropractic - A Case Study

A case study published on November 26, 2007 in the scientific periodical the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented the case of a 7 year old asthmatic girl whose life was changed with chiropractic. This documented case followed the care of this little girl who had suffered from chronic asthma since age two.

The study noted that by the age of 4, she was diagnosed as having asthma. Her mother reported that almost anything from dust to cold drafts would trigger an asthmatic attack. Her asthma was so bad that the 7 year old girl was taking oral medication twice a day and utilizing three different inhalers four times per day each, for a total of 24 inhalations per day.

As a complication to her asthma, she was suffering from a cough and persistent fevers. Because of this, she was using more than ten other medications to attempt to manage the cough and fever. Even with this extensive level of medications, this little girl's life was problematic. The study noted that she experienced daily attacks, almost constant wheezing and coughing, and a persistent tight and heavy chest. As a result, she was unable to engage in any physical activities. Her condition was so severe that she would be forced to go to the emergency room for treatment approximately five times per year.

Finally at age seven, the child was brought into an office for chiropractic care. A chiropractic examination showed the presence of vertebral subluxations, and care was initiated. She was seen and given specific chiropractic adjustments for 2-3 times per week for an initial period of 3 weeks.

The results for this little girl were life changing. After just the first adjustment, the case study reported that she had a noticeable reduction in her symptoms that evening, with the cough discontinuing. Over the next three weeks of care, she experienced no asthma attacks and no coughing. Additionally, her wheezing, and chest tightness and heaviness had subsided.

The girl's mother reported that her daughter was able to increase her activity without the usual increase in symptoms. Three months following the start of chiropractic care, an examination with the girl's medical doctor documented a significant improvement in respiratory function. Her pediatrician was elated with her progress and attempted to give credit to the medications. When the girl's mother explained they had stopped giving her several of the medications prescribed and that she was receiving chiropractic care, the pediatrician did not approve and terminated his care thus forcing the parents to change pediatricians.

In the conclusion of the case study the authors summed up this case by stating, "We presented the chiropractic care of a patient with severe asthma and chronic cough. Perhaps this case will encourage future testing and screening for subluxations which could potentially cause dysponesis, resulting in a variety of symptoms that include asthma.