For most who live in temperate climates, spring brings with it optimism and promise -- longer, warmer days and freshly budding trees and flowers. But for allergy sufferers, spring often signals the beginning of a long, miserable few months during which airborne pollen and allergens will close sinuses and redden eyes. For those who also have asthma, this can lead to more frequent attacks or an increase in inhaler use. If over-the-counter allergy relief medication, rescue inhalers, or allergy shots aren't helping your annual sneeze-fest, you may want to consider chiropractic treatment to help relieve the symptoms of your allergies and asthma. Read on to learn more about how a visit to a chiropractor may be able to help you manage these conditions.

How do chiropractors treat allergies?

Often, chronic allergies are due to the body's own autoimmune response -- after one bad reaction to a certain allergen, your body overreacts to future allergens and send a strong immune response, even if a more minor response would still be effective. This strong attack on allergens can cause your nose to run, your eyes to redden and swell, and your throat to hurt. By manipulating your upper spine to reduce pressure on certain nerves and ensure a clear pathway from your brain to the rest of your nervous system, a chiropractor can help lessen the symptoms of your allergies by improving your immune response.

You may be able to find allergy relief after just a single session, but generally repeated or regular treatment can offer the most effective long-term allergy relief. Once you've been symptom-free for a while, you'll find that you can lengthen the time needed between treatments and avoid flare-ups in the meantime.

Can chiropractors also assist in asthma treatment?

Often, asthma attacks result from a similar type of autoimmune response as allergies. By restoring your natural spinal alignment and the communication from your brain to the rest of your central nervous system, you'll be able to improve your body's response to less than ideal weather conditions (like high pollen days or hot, smoggy summer days). If your asthma is the result of poor alignment of your sinuses, or complicated by frequent sinus or ear infections, the chiropractor may be able to carefully manipulate the small bones of your upper spine and the base of your skull to help improve the internal structure of your sinuses and allow them to drain more easily.