Your child's breathing has a profound impact on their health: Chiropractic Care Can Help

Dr. Andrew Scott Author

May 29, 2025 |

Breathing is an automatic process that we often take for granted. However, the way we breathe has a profound impact on our health.

The Relationship Between Nervous System Regulation and Breathing: How Vitalistic Chiropractic Care Can Help

Breathing is an automatic process that we often take for granted. However, the way we breathe has a profound impact on our health. Proper breathing is essential for delivering oxygen to our cells, eliminating waste products, and supporting the body’s overall functioning. The regulation of breathing is closely tied to the nervous system, and when the nervous system is out of balance, it can lead to shallow, inefficient, or irregular breathing patterns. This can affect everything from energy levels to stress management and sleep quality. Fortunately, vitalistic chiropractic care offers a natural and effective way to support nervous system regulation, which in turn can improve breathing patterns and overall health.

Nervous System Regulation and Breathing

The nervous system controls many vital functions in the body, including the way we breathe. The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiration, is divided into two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which increases heart rate and shallow breathing, while the parasympathetic nervous system promotes the "rest and digest" response, leading to slower, deeper breathing and relaxation.

When the nervous system is in a state of imbalance—often due to physical stress, emotional strain, or spinal misalignments—it can affect the way the body breathes. For example, chronic stress or spinal misalignments can trigger the sympathetic nervous system, leading to shallow and rapid breathing. On the other hand, an overactive parasympathetic nervous system can result in sluggish or irregular breathing patterns. Both of these scenarios can hinder proper oxygenation, increase stress, and reduce overall health.

Vitalistic chiropractic care focuses on ensuring that the spine is properly aligned, which allows the nervous system to function optimally. By addressing misalignments, or subluxations, chiropractors help reduce interference in the nervous system, improving communication between the brain and the body. This, in turn, can lead to better regulation of breathing, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being.

Benefits of Vitalistic Chiropractic Care for Breathing

1. Breathing Support for Children

Children, especially infants, can face breathing challenges, including colic, asthma, or even frequent colds. Misalignments in the spine can interfere with the nervous system's ability to regulate breathing effectively. For example, subluxations in the upper cervical spine can affect the brainstem, which plays a critical role in controlling breathing and regulating the respiratory system.

Vitalistic chiropractic care can help restore proper spinal alignment in children, which allows the nervous system to function more efficiently. By improving nervous system regulation, chiropractic adjustments can help enhance lung function and promote easier, deeper breathing. Parents often find that chiropractic care helps their children breathe more comfortably, experience fewer respiratory issues, and improve overall health. For children with asthma, chiropractic care can support better airflow and potentially reduce the frequency of asthma attacks by addressing underlying nervous system dysfunction.

2. Breathing Support for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy brings a host of physical changes that can impact breathing. As the uterus expands, it places pressure on the diaphragm, making it harder for pregnant women to take deep, comfortable breaths. Hormonal changes and increased weight can also affect posture, leading to misalignments in the spine and pelvis. These misalignments can further contribute to shallow breathing and reduced lung capacity.

Vitalistic chiropractic care can provide significant relief for pregnant women by addressing these spinal misalignments and reducing tension in the body. Proper spinal alignment supports the nervous system and allows for improved diaphragm movement, helping pregnant women breathe more deeply and comfortably. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, chiropractic care also supports the parasympathetic nervous system, encouraging deeper, slower breathing. This can enhance the overall sense of well-being, reduce anxiety, and help pregnant women feel more relaxed and in control of their bodies.

3. Breathing Support for Adults

In adults, poor posture, stress, and lifestyle factors such as sitting for long periods or engaging in shallow, chest-based breathing can all negatively affect breathing patterns. Misalignments in the spine, particularly in the upper back and neck, can restrict the movement of the diaphragm and ribcage, leading to shallow, inefficient breathing. Additionally, chronic stress can activate the sympathetic nervous system, further contributing to shallow breathing and feelings of anxiety or tension.

Vitalistic chiropractic care can help adults breathe better by addressing spinal misalignments and reducing nervous system interference. Chiropractic adjustments can help restore proper alignment in the spine, freeing up the diaphragm and ribcage to move more freely. This allows for deeper, more efficient breathing. By promoting nervous system balance, chiropractic care also helps reduce stress and anxiety, encouraging the body to shift into a parasympathetic (relaxed) state, which facilitates deeper, slower breathing.

For adults with chronic stress, anxiety, or conditions like asthma or sleep apnea, chiropractic care can offer a natural alternative to support breathing and respiratory health. By improving spinal function and nervous system regulation, chiropractic adjustments can enhance lung capacity, reduce stress, and promote overall respiratory health.

Conclusion

Breathing is a fundamental function of life, and its regulation is closely tied to the nervous system. When the nervous system is out of balance, it can lead to shallow, inefficient, or irregular breathing patterns, which can negatively impact overall health. Vitalistic chiropractic care offers a powerful tool to support nervous system regulation by addressing spinal misalignments and reducing nervous system interference. Whether it's helping children breathe easier, supporting pregnant women in their changing bodies, or relieving stress and tension in adults, chiropractic care can help improve breathing patterns, promote relaxation, and enhance overall health. If you or your loved ones are struggling with poor breathing, consider exploring chiropractic care as a way to support nervous system function and respiratory health.