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Anxiety attacks can come from the smallest thing or without any trigger. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental issue facing Americans, affecting approximately 40 million adults, or 18 percent of the population.
Unfortunately, given the stigma associated with mental illness, odds are quite good that you most likely have a number of patients in your practice who suffer from some type of anxiety disorder, you may not even know it. The sad fact is that these patients are simply too afraid or ashamed to say anything to you about it.
The good news, however, is that there has been some intriguing research showing that chiropractic can actually help reduce symptoms of panic attacks.
Anxiety attack symptoms can be heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, dry mouth, uncontrollable shaking. In severe cases, patients may consider self-harm or suicide.
Treatment involves a mixture of behavioral modification (i.e. meditation or Psychotherapy) and medication. Usually benzodiazepines or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Unfortunately, both medication classes can have unpleasant side effects.
Benzodiazepines can cause:
Drowsiness
Memory problems
Dizziness
Stomach upset
Slurred speech
Headache
Blurred vision2
SSRIs can cause:
Fatigue
Insomnia
Nausea
Sexual dysfunction
Agitation
Headaches
Weight gain
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Increased sweating2
It makes sense to search alternative treatment for anxiety disorders. One symptom of a panic disorder is high blood pressure. A case report published in the December 1993 issue of the ACA Journal of Chiropractic compared the blood pressure readings before and after chiropractic adjustments for a patient who suffered from panic disorder.
One patient underwent both psychotherapy and trials of anti-anxiety medication, but with no change in symptoms. Their blood pressure before the chiropractic adjustment was elevated, at 182/102 mm Hg, with a pulse of 120 beats per minute. Following adjustments to the upper- and mid-cervical, upper- and mid-thoracic, and right sacroiliac fixations, her blood pressure dropped to 140/80 mm Hg, with a pulse of 76 beats per minute. With continued chiropractic care, she was free of panic attacks for two months.
An article published in 2016, the Annals of Vertebral Sublaxation Research, presented a similar case of a patient who had been suffering from ongoing panic disorder for three years, with no relief under standard care.4 In particular, she suffered from chest pain for the past eight months. She also had a history of trauma. The patient went through a combination of network spinal analysis/somato respiratory integration to correct the sublaxation and help calm their panic attacks. She started to see a significant reduction in symptoms starting at six weeks after beginning treatment, and resolution of her panic disorder after 14 weeks.
Anxiety disorders and treatment can be difficult for your patients. Medication may relieve the symptoms of anxiety, but the side effects can be just as bad, if not worse, than the actual anxiety symptoms themselves.
Chiropractic treatment can provide a way to help patients manage their anxiety disorder without the harmful side effects from medication.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental issue facing Americans, affecting approximately 40 million adults, or 18 percent of the population. Chiropractic treatment can provide a way to help patients manage their anxiety disorder without the harmful side effects from medication.
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Anxiety Disorders & Chiropractic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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