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We understand living with asthma is difficult. Every day moments can sometimes feel overwhelming when breathing becomes a struggle. If you or someone you love is dealing with asthma, know that you are not alone. We are here to help you guide through understanding asthma, its challenges, available treatment options, and how chiropractic care in Singapore can offer relief. So let’s begin, shall we?
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term condition that affects your air passageways. Normally, when you breathe in air, it goes down your throat from your nose or mouth. Then, it passes through your airways and finally reaches your lungs. There are a lot of tiny air sacs known as alveoli in the lungs that deliver oxygen to the blood capillaries.
In asthma, the lining of these airways becomes inflamed, and the muscles around them tighten. Further, your airways become filled with mucus, making it difficult for the air to pass through. All of these events lead to the asthma attack, also known as exacerbation. It causes coughing and produces a wheezing sound when you breathe.
Asthma is a common respiratory disease that affects up to 25 million adults in the United States, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people with asthma may experience symptoms occasionally, while others may get more frequent episodes. It is a chronic condition, which means it lasts long, often for a lifetime, but can be managed with proper treatment.
Asthma Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma vary in frequency and severity. Some patients experience symptoms all the time, while others only get them during asthmatic attacks.
Most common symptoms include:
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Chest Tightening
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble sleeping
- Frequent infections
- Anxiety
Other asthma attack symptoms that you might experience during the episode include:
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Blue lips
- Hyperventilation
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty talking
- Chest pain
If these symptoms don’t get better or worsen with the use of an inhaler, immediately seek medical attention.
Asthma Types
Experts classify asthma into several types on the basis of their characteristics. These include:
1. Allergic Asthma
It is the most common type of asthma, as it accounts for 60% of all cases. As the name suggests, it is triggered by allergens, such as dust mites, mold, pollen and animal dander. Knowing your triggers with the help of allergy testing can help avoid asthmatic episodes.
2. Non-allergy Asthma
Unlike allergic asthma, it is not triggered by allergens, such as pollen. It is less common and develops later in life. It may be triggered by irritants, such as cigarette smoke, air pollutants, strong odor, and weather changes.
3. Nocturnal Asthma
In this type of asthma, symptoms typically worsen at night. Our natural circadian rhythm and some environmental triggers, such as dust mites and cold air from conditioning or open windows, might cause symptoms at night.
4. Occupational Asthma:
As the name suggests, it is triggered by irritants in the workplace, such as chemicals, fumes, and dust. Your symptoms might improve when you work away from that environment.
5. Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB)
As the name indicates, EIB is triggered by the exercise. You may experience symptoms within a few minutes of starting exercise, which may persist 15-20 minutes after physical activity.
Healthcare experts usually classify asthma on the basis of its severity. These types include:
6. Intermittent
Most people have intermittent asthma. Its symptoms are only brief and don’t impact your daily life. You experience mild symptoms occurring less than two days per week or less than two nights per month.
7. Mild Persistent
In this type, symptoms occur more than two days per week or more than two nights per month.
8. Moderate Persistent
It affects your daily activities and sleep. You almost experience symptoms every day and at least one night per week.
9. Severe persistent
It greatly affects your daily activities as you experience symptoms many times per day and most nights per week.
Asthma Causes and Triggers
Researchers don’t know the exact reason why some people develop asthma, but they have identified several factors that increase the risk of asthma. These include:
- Having a family history of asthma
- Having allergies
- Having a history of respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus
Furthermore, certain risk factors might lead to asthma exacerbation or worsening of your symptoms. Some of the common asthma triggers include:
- Environmental irritants, such as cigarette smoke, wood dust fumes
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Strong emotions, such as sadness, laughter, etc
- Exercise
- Extreme weather conditions
- Food preservatives found in canned food
- Certain medications, such as NSAIDs (aspirin)
- Allergens
Asthma Diagnosis
Your healthcare professional will use a combination of medical history, physical examination, and some tests to diagnose asthma. He may ask if you have any symptoms, such as a cough, chest tightness, or other breathing symptoms. Further, he may inquire about when and how often your symptoms appear. Further, they will ask about any triggers, such a allergens, that may worsen your symptoms.
During the physical examination, your doctor will listen to any abnormal breathing sounds. They may also check for signs of other conditions with similar symptoms. They will also order some tests to confirm the diagnosis of asthma. These might include:
1. Spirometry
It is the most common test for asthma. You breathe in through a device called a spirometer, which measures how much air you can exhale. People with asthma exhale a reduced amount of air as compared to healthy individuals. The test is repeated after the person is given a bronchodilator to see if the lung function improves, which supports an asthma diagnosis.
2. Peak Flow Measurement
This test uses a simple device called a peak flow meter that measures how hard you can breath out. Variability in the peak flow readings over time indicates asthma.
3. Blood Test
Your pulmonologist might order blood tests to see levels of specific antibodies (IgE) to diagnose allergic asthma.
4. Chest X-ray
Your doctor is likely to order a chest X-ray to rule out other conditions that mimic asthmatic symptoms.
Asthma Treatment
The goal of asthma treatment is to minimize your symptoms, prevent flare-ups, and make your breathing easier. It can’t be cured completely, but patients can easily live full, active lives with proper management.
Asthma medication works by reducing inflammation, clearing up mucus, and relaxing the tightened muscles to open up airways. We can broadly classify asthma medications into three types for your easy understanding.
1. Quick Relief (rescue) Inhalers
As the name indicates, these medicines are used when needed during an asthma attack or exacerbation. They work fast to relieve symptoms, such as cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The most common medicines used for quick relief are acting beta-2 adrenergic agonists (SABA), such as an albuterol inhaler.
They quickly act to relax tightened muscles, opening airways within a few minutes. If you often find yourself using a rescue inhaler (more than two times per week), it means you have poor asthma control and you need to see your doctor.
2. Preventive Long-term Medications
These medications are taken daily to prevent symptoms and for the long-term management of asthma. The following classes of medication fall under this category.
● Inhaled Corticosteroids
These are the most effective antinflammatory drugs for asthma, which reduce swelling and mucus in the air. Common examples include beclomethasone and budesonide.
● Inhaled long-acting beta agonist
These medications work by opening your airways. They act slowly and provide long long-lasting effect as compared to SABA. These include formoterol and salmeterol.
● Long-acting muscarinic antagonists
These medicines work by dilating your bronchioles (airways).
● Leukotriene Modifiers
These are oral medications that block specific chemicals responsible for inflammation and narrowing of airways. The most common example include monteluekast and zileuton.
● Biologics
This is advanced injectable treatment that doctors prescribe for moderate to severe asthma poorly controlled by regular treatment. Biologics work by targeting specific immune pathways involved in asthma.
3. Combination Inhalers
These contain two or more medications, such as ICS plus LABA or ICS plus LAMA. These inhalers provide good asthma control and make it easier for patients to stick to their medicine regimen.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help People With Asthma?
Chiropractic care is not a cure for asthma, but it does a good job by helping ease symptoms. Chiropractic adjustment is focused on improving the function of nervous symptom and spine alignment, which can positively impact lung function and respiratory health.
The nerves that control our lungs and airways exit the spinal column in the mid-back (thoracic) region of the spine. If this part of the spine is misaligned, it can interfere with the nerve signalling and the ability of the lungs to expand fully. Chiropractors use techniques like spinal manipulation to correct these misalignments, which can help restore nerve flow and improve lung function.
Furthermore, by focusing on the cervical region, chiropractors can help relax tighten muscles around the chest and neck area. This reduces chest tightness and improves breathing comfort. Chiropractors can also incorporate breathing exercises that aim to increase lung capacity and teach patients how to control their breathing. It can help reduce anxiety related to asthma attacks and provide more control over symptoms.
At Vitality Chiropractic Centre in Singapore, our experts specialize in Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. Our clinic is the first of its kind in Singapore, focusing on the upper cervical region to address a variety of health issues. We believe that proper spinal alignment is the key to a person’s health and well-being. Our team provides personalized care plans tailored to your individual needs. So what are you waiting for? Contact us right now to get better control over your breathing!
Call 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com today!
Meet Our Chiropractors for Asthma Care in Singapore
Dr Shaan (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from London (UK) who graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). He has completed post-graduate studies and has been serving patients in Singapore since 2015.
He founded Vitality Chiropractic Centres to open the first Upper Cervical clinic in Singapore, and the only practicing Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique in South East Asia.
He is the Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) Chairman for Outreach, organising events within Singapore with the People’s Association and other charities. Shaan has served thousands of patients, with experience in patients with headaches, migraines, vertigo, Meniere’s, trigeminal neuralgia, whiplash, IBS and other chronic nervous system problems.
Dr Jessey (黄钰心矫正师) (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), graduated from Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). She has experience serving patients from 2 weeks old to 96 years old prior to moving to Singapore and joining Vitality Chiropractic (活力脊椎矫正中心).
She has completed post-graduate studies and is Singapore’s first female Upper Cervical Chiropractor (上颈椎矫正护理).
Jessey is active in outreach, participating in charitable trips to Cambodia and within Singapore. Jessey has experience helping patients with headaches, migraines, dizziness (眩晕/头晕), Meniere’s (美尼尔氏综合症), slipped disc, anxiety, fibrillations, IBS and other chronic nerve system problems. She also has a special interest in children and younger patients.
If you’ve been struggling with Asthma, call 8438 9550, email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com or fill in your information below to book your appointment.
Chiropractic Care for Asthma – Rates in Singapore
Here are the expected rates for Asthma care services at Vitality Chiropractic centres.
Discovery Call
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Jump on a call to discuss your concerns and determine if we are the right fit for you.
Consultation
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During the initial consultation, we will run a physical examination, postural assessment, and nerve system test.
Test Results
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Our chiropractor will explain the findings and test results from the consultation. A customised care plan will then be developed for you.
Single Session
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We will perform a nerve scan and adjustment as needed. Re-examinations and rehab exercises might be implemented.
Written by
Shaan Rai (Chiropractor, Singapore)
Shaan is a British Chiropractor, based in Singapore. He is an Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC (UK), attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. He is the Vice President and Chairman for Outreach & Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) and is the founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore. He developed the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab, with published research coming in 2025.
Dizziness Research in Singapore
Read our case report about our patient with dizziness and hearing loss, and the improvements seen with our care. This was produced by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, and published in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal.
Read Our Book
Shaan authored the book, ‘Dealing With Dizziness – Holistic Solutions For Unexplained Chronic Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Problems’.
You can find it on Amazon, or available in our Singapore Chiropractic clinic.
FAQS
Chiropractors are trained doctors of Chiropractic. They train exclusively as doctors of Chiropractic, not as medical doctors or dentists.
This is the same as how a Dentist, TCM or PhD graduate are trained as doctors in their field, but are also not medical doctors.
If you have any previous scans, x-rays, MRI’s or other imaging, please bring them to your appointment. We would also recommend bringing a family member or friend if you need support or to discuss finances.
Your initial Consultation will take approximately 1 hour, your Results will take approximately 45 minutes and follow up Appointments will take 20-35 minutes depending on your case.
After Chiropractic adjustments there can occasionally be side effects. The most common feelings after corrections (especially in the beginning) are:
- No changes yet
- Some stiffness in the muscles or light soreness
- Feeling relief
If there are any other symptoms or sensations experienced, please ensure to consult with your Chiropractor.
Absolutely! If you book using our online system you should get an email immediately then a WhatsApp confirmation from our staff.
For follow up appointments you should receive an email 48 hours before your appointment. If you do not, and you would like reminders, please let us know and we will be able to help. If you receive reminders but do not want to, you can also opt out of these emeails.
On any day you receive an adjustment we would advise taking it easy and drinking plenty of water. Give it at least 2 hours before exercising. If you feel tired then listen to your body and get to sleep early. Upon starting care, we will share a guide for you to take home, with a long list of do’s and don’ts, so you can take an active part in your care.
We recommend wearing something comfortable that you can bend in. While you don’t need to wear gym clothes, clothes which you can move in freely will be helpful for any tests or techniques the doctor will need to perform. For women, if you are wearing a dress or skirt we will provide blankets to cover you.
Chiropractic, and any health approach, will not be the answer for every patient and every health concern. Other Chiropractors may use different techniques and methods which may not produce the same results as Upper Cervical Chiropractic.
Our Chiropractors conduct a thorough history, physical assessment, nerve scans and biomechanical x-rays to determine if this is a case they can help.
If we are not the right fit for you, we will do our best to find the right practitioner for you.
Need Help Managing Your Asthma?
Contact Our Singapore Chiropractic Team
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Our Asthma specialist in Singapore can help.