How can a chiropractor help my ear infection?
What do these have in common?
- Sinus Congestion
- Ear Infection
They are both located in the same area, and they are connected. Your sinuses, located in your skull, produce mucus when the immune system is down, and your body is trying to keep foreign bodies out. When a virus or bacteria tries to make it’s way into the most important part of the body, the brain, your body literally clogs up the system with snot so nothing can come in or out. This does a great job of keeping the bad guys out, but if your body is unable to drain the mucus properly then problems arise. The sinuses should drain down the back of the throat and into the stomach.
So how does this cause an ear infection?
As you can see in the picture, the Eustachian tube (purple in the picture), lies in the exact same area as the mucus drainage route. Not everyone will get an ear infection from sinus congestion. Those more prone to ear infections are children. Children’s Eustachian tube lies more horizontal, which makes it easier for mucus to makes its way into the ear. Adults may also have structural problems with their Eustachian tube making them more prone to ear infections as well. Once the mucus gets into the ear it is very hard for it to drain on its own based on the anatomy. The mucus would have to travel uphill before it could make its way out. The longer mucus hangs out in the ear the higher chances you have for an infection to start brewing.
Ear infections can more often times than not be treated without the use of antibiotics if caught early enough. Specific chiropractic manipulations of the neck and ear allow the ear to drain almost immediately. Draining the ear relieves ear pain, pressure built up in the ear, and restores normal hearing.
You don’t have to have an ear infection to get your ear checked out. We also treat ear pain caused from riding in an airplane. The pressure changes from riding in an air plane can clog your ears and be very painful. There are special chiropractic treatments to help relieve such pain.
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