Does Chiropractic Care Help With Ear Infections
When it comes to treating ear infections, the first thing to do is nothing. Thats because these infections normally treat themselves after some time. In some cases, though, your childs doctor may recommend interventions such as antibiotics. Unfortunately, these medications come with various side effects. For that reason, they should be used only when the situation warrants it.
Does chiropractic ear adjustment bring ear pain relief for children? Yes, it can. Chiropractic care can help decrease ear infections by improving drainage in the ears. Thats why medical doctors sometimes refer patients with ear infections to chiropractors.
One study that focused on 46 children under the age of 5 reported outstanding findings. The study investigated whether chiropractic adjustments improved symptoms caused by ear infections. Surprisingly, 93 percent of the children involved saw improved symptoms. Of these, 75 percent experienced improvement in 10 days.
Remember: one of the symptoms of an ear infection is a general loss of balance. A chiropractor employs different techniques to restore the patients body to perfect balance. Chiropractic ear pull is one of the approaches these doctors use to handle the issue. And it works.
What Are Ear Infections
First things first: whats an ear infection? An ear infection is simply an inflammation that happens in the middle ear. The infection manifests as fluid buildup that occurs just behind the childs eardrum. Medical doctors and chiropractors call this condition OM Otitis Media.
As noted above, otitis media is quite common in young children, toddlers, and infants. Actually, its the number one reason parents take their child to an ear infection specialist. As a caring parent, you owe it to your child to become knowledgeable about this inflammation. Only informed parents can take appropriate action and help their loved ones.
The Chiropractic Approach To Childhood Ear Infections
Ear problems can be excruciatingly painful, especially in children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections are the most common illness affecting babies and young children and the number one reason for visits to the pediatricianaccounting for more than 35 percent of all pediatric visits.
Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before theyre a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever, and irritability. Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.
Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media is with antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial . But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the bodys own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria that scoff at the drugs, while leaving the child screaming in pain.
If your child is experiencing recurring ear infections, a chiropractor may be able to help. Gentle chiropractic adjustments for children are safe and effective, and are a good first step before parents decide to insert tubes in their childrens ears.
Also Check: Can A Bladder Infection Cause Incontinence
Chiropractic Care For Ear Infections
At AICA Atlanta, our doctors utilize Chiropractic Adjustments to treat painful ear infections.
Adjustments help significantly reduce pain associated with chronic ear infections since they can realign and restore full mobility to the vertebrae, which allows the Eustachian tube to drain appropriately.
When this happens, bacteria are not able to develop, and everything that is interfering with your immune system is removed.
How Chiropractic Can Help Ear Infections
Nothings worse than seeing your child in pain from an ear infection and not knowing how to help them. In todays episode, Dr. Ryan and Ashley Berlin discuss how chiropractic care can help ear infections, as well as natural remedies to heal otitis media .
According to the Boston Childrens Hospital, 80% of children have been diagnosed with at least 1 ear infection by the time they are 3 years of age. The traditional route people take when their child has an ear infection is to take them to a doctor, leaving only 2 treatment options available: antibiotics or tubes put in the ears. Although these may seem reasonable, what you dont realize is that they arent fixing the root cause of the ear infection.
Spinal misalignment , creates interference such as ear infections in the body. This puts pressure on the nerves causing the ear to not function properly. Dr. Ryan mentions a study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics where researchers found there was a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and healing of otitis media.
If you know someone who struggles with ear infections, share this episode with them it could change their quality of life for the better! Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
You May Like: Will Bactrim Treat Tooth Infection
What Are And What Causes Ear Infections
Otitis Media is the buildup of fluids in the middle ear. This allows a perfect environment for bacteria and even viruses to thrive. Without proper drainage of these fluids, pressure builds against the eardrum causing a horrible pain in the ear.
Ear infections are most common in children up to the age of 6 and usually follow a head cold or stuffy nose. The primary reason these young ones are more at risk is due to their developing anatomy. The Eustachian Tube, the part of the ear that is responsible for draining fluids from the middle ear into the nasal cavity, is mostly horizontal in young children. As the childs skull grows or elongates it forces the tubes into a more angled position thus allowing for easier drainage.
Fortunately, most ear infections are self limiting and short lived. However, many children suffer for years with chronic and reoccurring infections. Many parents want to know how to bring relief to their childs ear infections naturally, without recurrent antibiotic intake or more invasive ear tubing procedures. What can be done? Chiropractic may be your answer.
Chiropractic Care For Patients Who Suffer From Ear Infections
Ear infections are not often associated with Chiropractic care offered throughout Atlanta.
However, the Chiropractors at AICA Atlanta can offer pain relief when you or your children are suffering from pain as a result of an infection.
Where traditional medicine tends to utilize antibiotics that can contain some concerning side effects primarily, Chiropractic care focuses on treating ear infections through holistic measures that address the cause of the condition.
You May Like: Home Remedies For Tooth Infection
What Occurs With An Ear Infection
Why does it seem like we only hear about ear infections happening to children? Parents shouldnt assume that they are doing something wrong just because their children seem to develop ear infections regularly. There are actually a number of reasons for this. First, a childs ear tubes are smaller and less developed than an adults tubes. Whats more, a childs ear tubes tend to lay in a flatter manner that makes it more difficult for fluids to drain out of the ear. Its also common for smaller, flatter tubes to be filled by mucous that has nowhere to go. The second reason why children are so prone to ear infections has to do with their developing immune systems. Children simply have a harder time fighting off the same ear infections that may not impact adults. Its possible that an ear infection could either develop or be amplified by something called a subluxation. A subluxation is a misalignment or compression that can cause inflammation and blockages within the spine and nervous system.
How Chiropractic Care Benefits With Chronic Ear Infections In Kids
Over 80 percent of children experience at least one ear infection by age 3 according to NIH. Evidently, an ear infection is quite a common problem. Every caring parent with a young child should, therefore, increase their knowledge around this condition. Fortunately, chiropractor for ear infections is treatable.
But does chiropractic care help with ear infections? Should you consult with a Cumming chiropractor for ear infections? Research around chiropractic and ear infections reveals that chiropractic ear adjustment can help improve symptoms. Such treatment gets administered through safe adjustments such as chiropractic ear pull and others.
Its advisable to use a chiropractor for ear infection treatment for toddlers. Many parents, for example, consult a chiropractor for ear pressure, a symptom of an ear infection.
You May Like: Do Urine Infections Go Away On Their Own
Children Are More Vulnerable Than Adults
When it comes to OM, everyone is vulnerable. Seniors, teens, pregnant women, young adults, middle-aged people, young children no one is immune to it.
However, children are more at risk than anyone else. But why do children face a greater risk of getting OM?
First, childrens Eustachian tubes happen to be significantly smaller than in adults. In children, these tubes have not fully developed and lay flatter, more evenly than in any other category of people. As a result, fluid drains out of childrens ears with much difficulty. Sometimes the Eustachian tubes swell and get blocked by mucus. In such situations, fluid doesnt drain and that can cause serious problems.
Second, the immune system in young children isnt fully developed. Thats why it doesnt work as effectively as that of adults. Not surprisingly, childrens ability to fight off ear infections is less than that of adults.
What Exactly Is An Ear Infection
As basic as the question may sound, the exact mechanism of an ear infection is more complicated than one may assume.
Generally, when a child becomes ill due to an infection, some of the virus or bacteria particles that caused the infection can make their way to the middle portion of the ear. If the passageways from the middle ear to the throat are blocked with fluid, the pathogens can begin to multiply in the ear. Once this happens, the patient may start to experience pain, pressure, fever, and/or other symptoms.
Also Check: Oral Antibiotics For Ear Infection
Ear Infections And Chiropractors
Can your Chiropractor help with ear infections? While chiropractic treatment is intended to restore normal body function, the restoration can address a variety of issues. Gently adjusting the spine has a trickle down effect over the body. These gentle manipulations improve the function of the nervous system. When your nervous system functionality is improved, the functionality of systems in the body will improve, muscular, circulatory, digestive, hormonal etc. Chiropractors can safely address ear infections and help to reduce or eliminate any further infections.
Ear infections are one of the most common reason for visits to the pediatrician. Many times ear infections will occur repeatedly, requiring round after round of antibiotics or even surgery, invasive and expensive solutions. Billions of dollars annually are spent on surgically treating otitis, the infection or inflammation of the ear.
Otitis media, an ear infection, is a complication of the common cold. It develops once the resistance to infection has been lowered. Your resistances can be lowered in a variety of ways, emotional or physical stress, mental duress, even poor diet. Germs can move from the sinus cavities to the ear by the eustachian tube and begin growing.
If you or your loved one are suffering from an ear infection call our office. We want to help you heal in a natural, side-effect free way.
Can Chiropractic Help With An Ear Infection
If you have ever experienced the pain and discomfort of an ear infection, chances are you headed to your local doctors office or a pediatrician. Ear infections are incredibly common in children, but can also occur in adults of any age.
These infections can be caused by a number of things viruses, allergies, infections, swelling of the tissue surrounding the tonsils , and even tobacco smoking. Symptoms of ear infections usually include some soreness around the area, discharge and hearing loss. If the cause is, in fact, infection, a doctor will probably prescribe some antibiotics to help fight it off.
As previously stated, children are most commonly affected by ear infections. These infections sometimes called otitis can become quite serious, even requiring surgery to fix. A tube is placed inside the eardrum, allowing puss-like liquid to escape and relieving pressure on the ear. This procedure often has to be repeated in each case, which can be stressful for you and your child.
Antibiotics help to fight off infections, but there is some debate on the usefulness of these on ear infections, especially with repeated use. The bodys own immune system should be able to fight off the infection without aid, so using an antibiotic might just cause unnecessary issues, or do nothing at all. As well, doctors might prescribe painkillers, which do have potential problems and side effects, as with any form of medication.
You May Like: Can I Use Teladoc For A Yeast Infection
Can Chiropractic Care Prevent Ear Infections
Otitis media, known commonly as an ear infection, is an ailment that we often see children suffer from. Chronic ear infections can be painful and every year, over half a million children have tubes surgically placed in their ears as a solution to ear infections. While this procedure is common, it is not a normal and natural procedure or problem. About 80% of ear infections resolve themselves on their own, and because of that, subjecting your child to risky medications and surgeries is not always the best option. Seeing a Des Moines chiropractor can be a natural way to overcome the pain of chronic ear infections and it is incredibly safe for children, not to mention extremely effective.
Can Chiropractic Help With Ear Infections
Ear infections are more common than you might think. This is especially true for young children. In fact, five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Ear infections are irritating and painful and can have a tendency to keep coming back. However, it usually seems like the best answer is to let the infection run its course or get antibiotics to treat it. Theres another option that may have been overlooked and its chiropractic. Can chiropractic help with ear infections? The Chiropractic Center of Erie and Chiropractic Center of Longmont has the answer!
You May Like: How Many People Are Infected With Hiv Each Year
Antibiotics Vs Natural Treatments
There really is no reason that can justify the use of antibiotics for viral infections but this is whats happening. Although antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections, a recent survey discovered that nearly two-thirds of health professionals have knowingly prescribed antibiotics when they werent absolutely necessary.Although some may claim that they are safe and even precautionary, the reality stands that taking antibiotics lessens the bodys natural immune response.
For many reasons, antibiotics inadvertently weaken immune health. Up to 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut. Indiscriminate destruction of both beneficial and harmful bacteria considerably overburdens the immune system. One study, for example, emphasizes how moxifloxacin inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha and/or interleukin-6 pervasive and important immune system modulators that are important for:
- The bodys response to infection.
- Promoting beneficial inflammation and tissue destruction in various diseases.
- Playing a key role in the initial response to infection.
Overuse of antibiotics contribute to many cases of infection by drug resistant bacteria leading to several deaths annually in Europe alone. The CDC has reported that there are 2,000,000 illnesses and 23,000 deaths annually in the United States as a result of super bugs. Weve caused this problem ourselves!The problem with the antibiotic approach has several aspects:
What Do Chiropractors Do Differently
In an article published October 15, 2008, on www.healthychild.com, we learn:
Chiropractors attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem rather than just treat the symptoms. Misalignments of the spine can occur during childbirth, from tumbles or falls, or from any other normal activity. Misalignments left untreated can irritate the nerves and eventually disrupt the bodys ability to function properly. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to help to restore the normal functioning of the nervous system so the body can heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
It is important to note that chiropractic philosophy dictates that a chiropractor does not treat any specific disease, rather they treat the cause of the disease by correcting the cause of the vertebral subluxation and allow the body to heal itself. All without the use of harmful drugs.
Feel free to ask Dr. Barefoot about how he can help with ear pain and infections at your next adjustment.
Also Check: Can Tmj Cause Ear Infection
Studies: Antibiotics For Ear Infections
Before yet another round of maybe-theyll-work-and-maybe-they-wont antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections. Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, New York, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80% of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits .
The AAP states that antibiotics are overused 69% of the time in kids with ear infections. So not only is it less effective than natural chiropractic care, it also has the bad side effect of wiping out all gut bacteria leading to digestive problems. Remember, antibiotics dont just find bad bacteria..it kills all bacteria, of which most is good for you. This is why you shouldnt use anti-bacterial soaps or cleaners at home.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Ear Infections
Spring has arrived and the weather is getting warmer. For this weeks article I would like to talk about certain ear problems that people experience like ear infections, tinnitus and vertigo. These certain conditions can real put a damper on the spring and summer festivities. If at this point youre asking yourself, can chiropractic care
Also Check: Genital Herpes Vs Yeast Infection