Chiropractic Care in Portland for Managing Ear Infections Naturally

Ear infections are so common that people sometimes forget just how painful and disruptive they can be. By the time people are three years old, 80% of us have had an ear infection at some point. While they may start off small and easy to ignore, they tend to grow more painful and disruptive as they go on. While they are occasional occurrences for most of us, there are many people with chronic ear infections they seem to be dealing with all the time. This is particularly common with children.

There are several ways to address the symptoms of ear infections. Many people turn to solutions like over the counter pain medications and antibiotics. There are also lifestyle tips, like avoiding headphones and sleeping sitting up for better drainage.

A sometimes overlooked resource that can be valuable to many is chiropractic care in Portland.

Chiropractors Can Help More Than Back Pain

Portland chiropractors are a common solution when it comes to back and neck pain, but they do so much more than just that. Your chiropractor focuses on spinal health and joint health, as ways to improve function and protect the nerves. They perform natural and non-invasive methods to manipulate the body back to its natural alignment for health.

Ear infections happen in the inner, middle, or outer ear. They happen when the eustachian tubes are swollen or blocked. These tubes are narrow and go from the ear to the back of the throat. An ear infection means the tube isn't flowing freely and there is a build-up of fluid inside.

Some of the common symptoms of ear infections include dizziness, impaired hearing, impaired balance, and pain in the ear and neck. For some people, the fluid buildup can make it difficult to turn the head, both because of stiffness in the neck or because of dizziness.

How Chiropractic Helps Ear Infections

With chiropractic care, many have found that the overall improved state of health helps with mobility. When your nerves are functioning normally, this improves your central nervous system, which has an overall improvement on your immune system and ability to heal.

While the above benefits are great, the real benefits that have people returning to chiropractors to address ear infections are more immediate. These benefits include pain relief, improved mobility, and decreased inflammation.

It may surprise you when your chiropractor looks at more than just your ear and neck. If you're there for an ear infection, why is your chiropractor checking your spinal column? Don't be surprised when this happens. Chiropractors study wellness in general. They think of the body as one whole piece. While your ear infection is localized, that doesn't mean problems elsewhere aren't contributing to your discomfort. A misaligned disc in your neck could be pressing on a nerve that's adding to the symptoms you're experiencing with your ear infection. Your chiropractor at North Portland Wellness Group will take the time to be thorough with a proper exam and questions about your recent health issues to make sure you walk away from the appointment with improved health.

Your Portland chiropractor will also talk to you about tips you can use at home for managing your symptoms based on your specific experiences. They can work with you to find the possible cause for your ear infection as well to see if it may be preventable in the future.