Ear infections are particularly prevalent in young children. They are blockages in the Eustachian tubes, and chiropractic adjustments, especially in the neck region can help to unblock any fluids or infections in the ear by allowing proper drainage.

What Causes Ear Infection?

The Eustachian tube is a tiny tube that drains any fluids from the middle ear into the throat. Colds, allergies, airborne or due to cow’s milk or other foods block this tube with mucus and inflammation. When this canal is closed off, inflammatory fluids build up in the middle ear. Over time passage of nasal and throat bacteria into this tube seed the middle ear. Bacteria can then multiply in this environment creating painful infection.

Why Are They More Common in Kids?

Children in particular have Eustachian tubes that are more parallel than those in adults. Because of this difference in anatomy, children are more prone to ear infections.

How Can Parents Reduce the Incidence of Ear Infections?

Parents can reduce the risk of ear infection by breastfeeding for immune protection, not permitting bottle drinking at night in the crib, reducing inflammation throughout the body by limiting sugar, not permitting pacifier use while on the child is on his/her back, and by catching ear infection before they become severe. Getting your child’s spine checked regularly by a chiropractor will also boost the child’s immune system.

Antibiotics…Or Not!

Many ear infections are viral and not bacterial, in which cases antibiotics are generally useless against a virus. Antibiotics can make viral infections worsen by wiping out competing bacterial flora and encouraging secondary bacterial infections of resistant strains. Numerous chronic ear infections are fungal in nature produced when multiple courses of antibiotics disrupt the normal floral balance and encourage fungal growth.

In the Untied States, the standard treatment for ear infections is antibiotic, but they are often prescribed when there is fluid buildup without infection or when the eardrum just appears red, suggesting inflammation. The eardrum can appear very red due to many causes including crying, allergies, or fever of another origin. In fact it is not possible to accurately diagnose infection without puncturing the eardrum and taking a fluid sample.

Several studies have shown that antibiotics provide a minimal benefit over no treatment at all for resolving short-term ear infections. A review of 33 studies found that spontaneous recovery without medical treatment occurred in 81% of acute cases and occurred 95% of the time with antibiotic use. There was a higher rate of returning acute ear infection seen in those who received antibiotics. It is also note-worthy that at least one third of children on antibiotics experience side effects.

Therefore modern recommendations would be to only use antibiotics in acute infections that do not resolve on their own within a few days. Many European countries have followed this protocol with good results and simultaneously reducing the development of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends a watch-and-wait approach.

A child may find relief with a heating pad placed over the ear, or warm garlic or tea tree oil drops into the ear. Reducing fever is not recommended since it is the body’s way of burning the invading microbes.

Chiropractic for Ear Infections

A chiropractor will feel the neck and spine of the child examining for misalignments and make adjustments as needed to help release any fluid. Adjusting any misalignment of the spine in the neck will also improve immune system function and allow the child to express a greater state of health.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic, Dr. Hillesheim is a Minnetonka Chiropractor dedicated to helping families and children get back to living a healthy life to the fullest. Take advantage of our FREE consultation today to see how we can help your family!

children recently cured of their ear infections

See more at:www.reliefplusmn.com

Is stress avoidable?

Marriage, New House, New Baby, Promotion at Work…..These aren’t your typical forms of stress; these are pretty happy times! But these examples are life changing and therefore STRESSFUL as we adapt to the major changes. Stress is all around us, some of it exciting and good and some not so good.

It is impossible to get through life avoiding stress; the truth is, it’s always going to be there. It can leave your head spinning and if long lasting, it can be harmful to your health and well-being.

What is your stress level?

Stress is very interpretive. What’s stressful to one person might hardly upset another person.

Stress is not measurable, yet it is hard to deny its existence. However most of Western medicine fails to take stress into consideration in the overall level of health of an individual. Height, weight and blood pressure are all measured, but there is no “stressometer.”

Although it’s immeasurable, stress does create a physiological response. As you might know, when you feel stressed, your muscles tense up, the stress hormone Cortisol rises, blood pressure goes up, perspiration increases along with a number of other responses.

Over time these frequent responses can lead to sickness and disease. In fact, what do we call stress? The Silent KILLER – because it’s the number one trigger to the number one cause of death. The number one cause of death is heart attack in the United States and most of Europe.

You can live with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, but if you have a high stress environment along with those things going on, it’s not a good situation to be in. Therefore, you MUST learn to manage your stress.

Manage Your Stress

Physical exercise is one of the best things you can do to decrease your stress. Studies show that 20 minutes per day of stress relieving activity can decrease your stress level. If you can’t fit in 20 minutes daily, you should put in a minimum of one hour per week. Start to schedule these types of activities into your routine:

Meditation and prayer
Music without lyrics
Yoga
Massage therapy
Nap
Read a book
Be Optimistic
Plan and prioritize
Eat healthily
Give yourself ample time to complete a task
Know your Limits and learn to say “no”
Talk to a friend
Feeling nervous? Consciously slow down your breathing
Laughter!

Chiropractic and Stress Management

Chiropractic care has been shown to benefit those with chronic stress. A healthy nervous system maintained with chiropractic care allows for the body to more easily adapt to a stressful environment. This decreases the potential for physiological stress response which over time can lead to disease.

Your brain and nervous system are your master control of your body. All other systems depend on your nervous system to function properly. Since stress affects nearly every system, a balanced nervous system will allow a healthier stress response.

Chiropractic can also reduce the potential dangers of stress. For example stress can lead to prolonged muscle tension, which can affect the structure of your body and put pressure on the nerves. Good chiropractic care benefits the heart, reduces headaches, help with breathing, improve sleep quality, along with many other beneficial effects.

Chiropractic also helps a variety of health conditions, such as low back pain, neck pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, sports injury, auto injury, headaches, ear infections, insomnia, fatigue, carpal tunnel, sciatica, and a number of other conditions.

To learn more visit our Minnetonka Chiropractic Office, located at the intersection of Minnetonka Boulevard and County Road 101 on the border of Minnnetonka and Wayzata MN. We have helped hundreds of patients achieve a higher level of health! Call our office at (952) 681-2863 today!

See more at www.reliefplusmn.com

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How Chiropractic Can Help with Ear Infections – Chiropractor in Minnetonka MN