Why Are So Many Kids Sick Today? (It's More Than Just Toxins)
- Dr. Kyle Denos
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
Parents Are Asking the Same Question:
"Why are so many kids struggling with chronic health issues today?"
It’s a question we hear every single week in our office — and if you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by your child’s health challenges, know that you are not alone.
The statistics are staggering. According to the CDC, nearly 40% of kids today are dealing with at least one chronic health condition — and many experts believe that number is actually even higher.
But why?
Why are more children than ever struggling with things like:
Digestive issues
Autoimmune conditions
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Anxiety and depression
Sensory Processing Disorder
Epilepsy
The answer might surprise you.
The Limits of Conventional Thinking
Traditional medicine often points the finger at genetics — or chalks it up to bad luck.
And while medications might offer temporary relief, they rarely address the root cause of the problem.
Even many natural health approaches — while helpful — often focus heavily on diet, toxins, and supplementation, without considering a foundational piece that influences everything else:
The health and function of your child’s nervous system.
The Missing Link: It’s Not Just Toxins or Genetics
Is nutrition important? Absolutely.
Are environmental toxins a factor? Without question.
But here’s what most parents haven’t been told:
Your child’s nervous system — the master control system of their body — is what determines how they process stress, regulate emotions, develop motor skills, digest food, and build immune strength.
And for many kids today, their nervous system has been overwhelmed from the very start.
Understanding The Perfect Storm
At The Haven Chiropractic, we talk a lot about something called The Perfect Storm — a series of early life stressors that add up and overwhelm a child’s developing nervous system.
These stressors can begin before a child is even born.
The 3 Main Early Life Stressors Are:
1. Stress During Pregnancy + Fertility Challenges
High stress in mom (emotionally or physically) floods baby’s nervous system with stress hormones that alter development.
2. Birth Interventions + Trauma
C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, inductions, and cord complications create physical stress on a newborn’s nervous system — particularly in the neck and upper spine where the nervous system is most vulnerable.
3. Early Exposure to Medications, Antibiotics, and Toxins
Excess medications, antibiotics, chemical exposure, and poor gut health disrupt the nervous system and immune system during critical windows of development.
Add to this today’s constant screen time, technology use, and emotional stress from a fast-paced culture — and it’s easy to see how our kids are reaching a breaking point.
Nervous System Dysregulation: What Happens Next?
When stress piles up early and often, the nervous system shifts into fight-or-flight mode — a state called sympathetic dominance.
This is what we call dysautonomia — when the nervous system gets stuck in survival mode.
Depending on a child’s age, this can look like:
Age | Signs of Nervous System Stress |
Infants | Colic, reflux, constipation, chronic ear infections |
Toddlers | Tantrums, meltdowns, separation anxiety, sensory overload |
School-Age Kids | Hyperactivity, focus struggles, behavioral challenges |
Teens | Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, ADHD diagnosis |
How Nervous System Stress Impacts the Whole Body
Once a child’s nervous system is stuck in sympathetic overdrive, it affects every major body system:
Gut Health + Digestion
Poor gut motility, nutrient absorption problems, constipation, and gut dysbiosis are common when digestion is "shut down" in stress mode.
Immune System
Chronic stress creates a hyper-inflammatory immune response, leading to allergies, frequent sickness, autoimmune conditions, and even neurological inflammation linked to autism.
Sensory + Motor Systems
Coordination delays, speech challenges, poor motor tone, and sensory sensitivities often trace back to poor nervous system regulation.
Why Many Approaches Miss the Mark
Conventional medicine tends to treat the symptoms — not the root cause.
Even some natural approaches focus on supplements, detoxes, or gut healing without addressing the nervous system first.
But if the nervous system stays stuck in stress mode, the body’s ability to heal is limited — no matter how clean the diet or how many supplements are added.
The good news? There’s a natural, gentle, and effective way to help reset and regulate the nervous system.
The Path to True Healing: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
Through specialized technology like INSiGHT Scanning and specific, gentle chiropractic adjustments, we work to restore calm, balance, and regulation to your child’s nervous system.
This allows the body to:
Digest and detox better
Sleep more deeply
Focus and learn with less struggle
Regulate emotions and transitions
Strengthen the immune system
Signs Your Child is Healing
As care progresses, parents often notice these early signs of progress:
Longer, more restful sleep
Regular bowel movements
Fewer meltdowns or sensory overload moments
Greater emotional flexibility
Improvement in motor coordination and speech
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If your intuition tells you there’s more to your child’s health story — you’re probably right.
We would love to help guide you and your family toward healing.
Contact us today at The Haven Chiropractic to schedule a consultation. Our team specializes in Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care and would be honored to support your child’s health journey.
If you're not local to us, visit the PX Docs Directory to find a trusted neurologically-focused chiropractic office near you.
Your Child Deserves to Thrive — Not Just Survive.
Understanding this missing piece could change everything for your child and your family.
