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Asthma, breathing restrictions, post pneumonia

Asthma, breathing restrictions, post pneumonia

Restrictions with your breathing can come from many different factors. Asthma can be a very serious breathing problem that for some of the population needs to be treated with medication, to open inflamed restricted bronchus. Sometimes, it’s mechanical in nature.

When looking at someone who complains of difficulty with breathing, as long as there are no red flags in their history, we need to look at all the structures involved that allow us to take a deep breath. As Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, we start with the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large dome shaped muscle the attaches around the bottom of the ribs and middle of the lower back. It starts at the bottom of the shoulder blades so when tight, it can pull you forward. When we treat the diaphragm we also need to look at the mid back, or thoracic spine. If the thoracic spine is held flexed forward, even if the diaphragm can move, you can’t take a deep breath if you are stuck bent over.  Try this right now!

Now, if we find that the diaphragm moving, and the spine can move, we will then look at the lungs. Lungs can be restricted in their mobility, like any other structure. We have seen changes using a spirometer (a device to measure air flow you breathe into) pre and post treatment in lung volumes. I also did my thesis on trying to increase oxygen saturation in the blood with Osteopathic care, and although we just missed statistical significance, there was a difference pre and post treatment. Lungs attach to the diaphragm, as well as ribs, and lower part of the neck where it attaches to the upper back. If the lung has trouble moving, it pulls on the neck pulling you forward, if you can imagine having a tie on and constantly pulling down on it, that’s what might be happening internally.

So, if you had pneumonia, and the infection is gone, your lung is restricted in its mobility, pulling on your neck forcing you to be bent forward, making you slump, shorting your diaphragm (because when you have pneumonia you take tiny breaths so not to cough), its no wonder you are complaining of shortness of breath. You may want to consider Osteopathic Manual care at Balance Point and you may never need your puffers again!  Like the founder of Osteopathy Dr. Andrew Taylor Still said “The body is a functional unit”, and I think this is a pretty good example of how things work together.

For other ideas for opening up airways, contact Linda Ljucovic for an effective essential oil blend called Easy Air.  It too can open up airways, allowing you to breath more easily.

Dave Ellis, Manual Practitioner Osteopath, Oakville

4 Comments
  • Sally

    August 26, 2017at12:13 am

    Thank you for this article. After reading this I saw an oesteopath for my breathing and chest pain which came on after a pnemonia and lasted for 5 months. After 3 visits with the oesteopath I am actually starting to breath again, way less chest pain and can actually lay down and walk at a decent pace. Hope more people will come across this article as nothing else worked!

  • Dr. Stefanie Hillinger

    September 18, 2017at4:34 am

    What is asthma and how can it be treated successfully?
    In asthmatics, the mucous membranes of the airways are constantly inflamed. The bronchia react to a variety of substances which are actually harmless, with a violent defense reaction. Asthma is therefore an allergy. A person with an intact immune system does not get any asthma.
    The Science Center of the Dayeng Foundation, in collaboration with other international scientists, has been researching the biology and especially the immune system of humans for more than 30 years. The research results were clear. Asthma develops exclusively in industrialized countries and the cause is a disturbed or weak immune system.
    The Research Center of the Dayeng Foundation has succeeded in repairing the immune system of humans. In 2001 a special therapy center was established. Since that time, people are treated whose immune system is weakened. The successes in the treatment of asthma patients are almost 100%. The treated patients can now lead a normal life again. More information here: http://lupus-trust.net
    Dr. Johann Menser
    Attending Doctor of the Therapy Center of the Dayeng Foundation, independent science center

  • The Allergy Web

    December 26, 2017at3:13 am

    Great! Thank you for sharing this helpful article.

  • Richard Friedel

    January 16, 2018at4:51 pm

    How to tackle asthma with acupressure. Press on the skin between the nose and upper lip in step with breathing and note relaxation of lung airways .. See video by Dr. M.R.Gach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiSq-WnMXjs Then train to get same effect by brisk inhaling through the nose. See doc. about getting off medication.