Breathe Away Your Pain

The truth is chronic pain is a complex issue that involves multiple systems of the body. However, simple interventions for this complex problem have been shown to be extremely effective. The 4-7-8 breathing technique popularized by Andrew Weil,M.D. is a great example of a deep, slow breathing technique the can calm the nervous system and attenuate the discomfort caused by chronic pain.

➡️Start by finding a comfortable, quiet place to sit. Keeping your mouth closed inhale through your nose for a count of 4 seconds. Hold the breath for 7 seconds. Finally, exhale though your mouth for 8 seconds. Start with daily practice for 5 minutes and increase to 15 minutes gradually as you become more comfortable.

"Our results suggest that the way of breathing decisively influences autonomic and pain processing, thereby identifying DSB in concert with relaxation as the essential feature in the modulation of sympathetic arousal and pain perception." -Pain Medicine, Volume 13, Issue 2

116 Million Americans experience chronic pain every year. THAT’S 1/3 OF THE ENTIRE U.S. POPULATION by estimates of Tsang et al.(2008) .The chronic pain problem is of epidemic proportions. It is estimated that 20-40% of ADOLESCENTS are prescribed an opioid medication each year.

Conservative care, such as chiropractic, has been shown to be effective and should be considered as a preferred first line of treatment.

Dr. David Satterfield, Chiropractor