If you feel the very back of your skull (your occiput) and count down your neck to the 3rd and 4th vertebrae, that is where your C3 and C4 are located. C3 and C4 help control the diaphragm (the sheet of muscle that stretches to the bottom of the rib cage and plays an important role in your breathing and respiration). C3 commonly affects the trigeminal nerve which can cause trigeminal neuralgia. This is a facial pain that can be along three distributions involving the forehead, cheek, and jaw areas of the face. The nerve from C3 can affect your cheeks, outer ear, teeth, facial bones, and facial nerves. Other ailments that could show up with issues you’re your C3 alignment could be neuralgia, facial acne, and even eczema.
C4 affects mostly the diaphragm. This is important in breathing issues such as asthma and other forms of COPD. There have been cases where chiropractic adjustments in this area have also helped the hiccups due to diaphragm spasm. Your C4 nerve goes to things like your nose, lips, mouth, and Eustachian tubes; and issues with C4 could show up as a runny nose, allergies, hearing issues, or problems with your adenoids.
As I always say, there are no “magic” buttons in the spine. When we do adjustments to align your spine, these areas can begin to normalize and function again! Your body will always be better off “in alignment” rather than subluxated!