Bedwetting?
Enuresis, commonly known as bedwetting, is a condition that affects individuals of all ages and can have various underlying causes. While it is most prevalent in children, some adults also experience this issue. The causes of enuresis can be multifaceted and may include:
Genetics: There is evidence to suggest that enuresis may run in families, indicating a genetic component to the condition.
Developmental Delays: Some children may experience enuresis due to delays in the maturation of the nerves that control bladder function.
Hormonal Imbalance: A deficiency in antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps regulate urine production at night, can lead to enuresis.
Bladder Capacity: Some individuals have smaller bladder capacities, making it difficult to hold urine for extended periods, particularly during sleep.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Infections in the urinary system can irritate the bladder and lead to involuntary voiding of urine.
Psychological Factors: Stressful life events, anxiety, or emotional disturbances can contribute to enuresis, especially in older children and adults.
Sleep Disorders: Conditions such as sleep apnea or abnormal sleep patterns can disrupt the signals between the brain and the bladder, resulting in bedwetting.
Constipation: Chronic constipation can put pressure on the bladder, leading to issues with bladder control.
Medical approach
Medical interventions for enuresis may include prescription medications, such as desmopressin, which helps reduce urine production at night, or imipramine, which can help improve bladder control.
In addition to medications, behavioral therapies like bladder training, moisture alarms, and pelvic floor exercises can also be beneficial in managing enuresis. These approaches focus on retraining the bladder and promoting good bathroom habits to reduce the frequency of bedwetting episodes.
Non-medical approach
Limiting the amount of drinks in the evening
Avoiding foods with caffeine
Encouraging double voiding before bed
These non-medical approaches can be effective but aren’t addressing the root cause of enuresis.
The Chiropractic Approach
Precise adjustments to the sacrum to realign and decrease inflammation or irritation to the sacral spinal nerves have been shown to decrease the frequency of bedwetting in research studies. There are nerve centers in the brain that control the bladder muscles (used for proper urination), along with the spinal nerves within the sacrum. Adjusting these nerve centers can decrease frequency of wet mornings.
Subluxations and Trauma
A vertebral subluxation is a term used in chiropractic care to describe a misalignment or dysfunction in the spine where one or more vertebrae are not moving properly or are out of alignment with the adjacent vertebrae. This can result in interference with the nervous system's ability to function optimally, potentially leading to various health issues. Vertebral subluxations can cause an inflammatory response that can interfere with normal physiology, biochemistry, and function of otherwise healthy tissue. The subluxation can be a factor in the development of many common conditions.
Evidence
There was a study preformed by Reed, WR; 46 patients from ages 5 to 13 were split into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments, while the other group received fake adjustments. The group receiving chiropractic care had a significant decrease in wet nights, where the other group saw practically no change.
In conclusion
Chiropractic care neither adds to nor takes from anything in the body in order to achieve results. By reducing the damaging effects of vertebral subluxation, chiropractic adjustments allow the body to recover, naturally without the unnecessary side effects. If chiropractic care and conservative medical care both have been found to be equally effective, you have to ask yourself if you want the unnecessary side effects along the way or not.
References:
Reed WR; Beavers S; Reddy SK; Kern G; Chiropractic management of primary nocturnal enuretic children.
