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Our Kids Are Not Okay... AND HERE'S WHY

Dr. Jordan Dieterle
February 7, 2025
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If you’ve spent countless nights worrying about your child’s health, questioning why conventional solutions aren’t making a difference, you’re not alone. As a parent, you have an innate sense when something isn’t right, even if others reassure you otherwise. That gut feeling—the nagging concern that there’s more to the story—is worth trusting.

The Silent Epidemic

Here's a startling truth that isn't being discussed enough: up to 40% of children today are struggling with at least one chronic health condition. Some research suggests this number may even be higher than 50%. This is simply not ok! We're seeing unprecedented rates of:

  • Anxiety and emotional regulation challenges
  • ADHD and focus issues
  • Autism spectrum disorders
  • Chronic digestive problems
  • Allergies and autoimmune conditions
  • Sleep disorders
  • Sensory processing issues

Looking Beyond Common Theories

Before we dive into what's really causing our children to be so sick, we need to address two common theories that most people believe. The first probably won't surprise you, but the second just might shake up everything you thought you knew about children's health.

Theory #1: "It's All in the Genes"

The entire traditional medical system is built upon a simple concept: good genes equal good health, and bad genes equal poor health. It's a neat, tidy explanation that puts everything into convenient boxes.

But here's the truth that challenges this theory: our genes take thousands of years to adapt and change significantly. There's simply no way that genetics alone can explain the explosive rise in chronic illness we're seeing in our kids today. This dramatic increase has happened in just a few generations - far too quick to be explained by genetic changes.

Theory #2: "It's All About Toxins"

When people first start exploring natural health and wellness (which is fantastic!), they often land on one conclusion: it must be all about toxins and chemicals in our environment. And while we absolutely agree that "kids and chemicals don't mix," and our chemical-filled world is definitely a major contributor to chronic illness, it's not the whole story.

The Hidden Trigger Hiding in Plain Sight

The real culprit behind this explosion in chronic illness is something we all know about but often overlook when it comes to our children: stress.

Yes, stress. It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? However, the impact of stress on our children's developing nervous systems is profound and far-reaching.

Think about it: we've normalized stress to such an extent that we barely notice it anymore. Our children's nervous systems are constantly "wound up and worn out," yet we rarely connect this to their health challenges. We've accepted this state as normal, but there's nothing normal about it.

Understanding "The Perfect Storm"

What we're seeing in children's health today is what we call "The Perfect Storm" - a cascade of stressors that begins early in life and can dramatically impact a child's developing nervous system:

  1. It starts during pregnancy with maternal stress affecting fetal nervous system development.
  2. Birth interventions (C-sections, forceps, vacuum extractions) can cause physical trauma to the brainstem and vagus nerve.
  3. Early childhood challenges compound these initial stressors (environmental toxins, repeated antibiotic use, social challenges, etc). Early issues like colic, reflux, and ear infections are warning signs.

When these stressors combine, they create a perfect storm of nervous system dysfunction and dysregulation - also called subluxation and dysautonomia. This doesn't just affect mental and emotional well-being - it impacts every aspect of health:

  • Gut health and digestion
  • Immune system function
  • Sleep patterns
  • Hormone regulation
  • Brain development
  • Emotional regulation
  • Physical development

Children don’t just “grow out of” these challenges - they often develop into more complex issues.  

Taking Back Control

The good news is that understanding this connection between stress, nervous system function, and overall health opens up new possibilities for healing. Instead of just treating symptoms or trying to "fix" genes, we can focus on supporting our children's nervous systems and creating environments that promote natural healing.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care at Pinnacle Chiropractic identifies and addresses subluxation and nervous system dysfunction. We start by gathering a case history of your child and then use advanced INSiGHT scanning technology to measure neurological function in your child. Using this data, we then create personalized care plans based on each child’s specific needs. Finally, with our gentle adjustments, we help restore proper nervous system regulation naturally, without drugs.

Your Next Steps

It’s time to challenge the idea that chronic illness is just part of childhood. The key to true, lasting health lies in understanding the critical role of stress and nervous system function.

At Pinnacle Chiropractic, we see families every day who have exhausted every option—conventional medicine, specialized diets, detox programs, and even expensive functional medicine treatments—yet their children continue to struggle. When nothing else has provided answers, we take a different approach. While factors like genetics, food sensitivities, and gut health play a role, the true root cause often stems from nervous system dysfunction, dysregulation, and subluxation.

If this resonates with you, don’t wait to take the next step. Reach out to Pinnacle Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation. We don’t just offer world-class nervous system-based chiropractic care—we provide a supportive, empowering community for families like yours. And if you’re not local, we encourage you to visit the PX Docs directory to find a trusted provider near you.

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Finally, we decided to try a chiropractor. After a couple treatments she is a completely different baby!
Highly recommend!! Our 8 week old was dealing with reflux and digestive issues and she had episodes of screaming and crying every evening and we would battle for hours to try and get her down for the night. Everyone including her pediatrician just said she will grow out of it, but finally we decided to try a chiropractor. After a couple treatments she is a completely different baby! She is so happy and no more screaming and crying episodes 🙌🏻 Also the staff is absolutely incredible!! They are amazing at explaining everything to you and happy to answer any questions you might have.
I am so thankful to Pinnacle for the confidence I have that my body is right and ready for labor.
100% recommend for pregnant mommas! I have been receiving weekly adjustments since I was about 10 weeks pregnant, and have had nothing short of an amazing experience at Pinnacle Chiropractic! The staff here is incredible and it is evident that they truly care for their patients needs. Since receiving prenatal care, I have had tremendous relief in the lower back pain that I experienced prior to pregnancy and have experienced little to no pelvic discomfort. Weekly pelvic adjustments have made a huge difference in my pregnancy symptoms thus far, and I am so thankful to pinnacle for the confidence I have that my body is right and ready for labor.
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