Chiropractic Care and How It Can Help With Acid Reflux
Studies show that an abnormal curvature of the spine combined with back muscle weakness can have a substantial effect on the development of acid reflux.
With chiropractic care, the curvature of the spine can return to its normal state and reduce or help eliminate acid reflux symptoms.
With the blog, we discuss acid reflux, the causes, and how to help this condition with chiropractic care therapies.
Table of contents:
- About acid reflux
- What is acid reflux?
- What causes acid reflux?
- Fix acid reflux with Chiropractic Care
Did you know that acid reflux is one of the top health-related internet search queries and is a common condition among millions of Americans?
It is becoming more and more prevalent throughout the world, especially affecting middle-aged and the older segment of the population.
Shockingly, even pediatric populations are developing GERD symptoms at an appalling rate. Failing to properly treat GERD symptoms or can lead to ulcers and esophageal cancer.
Related post: The Difference Between a Chiropractor and a Massage Therapist
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is known to most people as a more severe form of acid reflux.
GERD is diagnosed when the backward flow occurs frequently and severely, possibly including additional symptoms.
GERD involves regular heartburn, regurgitation of food or liquid, problems swallowing, coughing, and wheezing. It may also involve chest pain or feeling like there is a lump in the throat.
You may know Acid Reflux as: Acid Ingestion, Heartburn, Esophageal reflux, GERD, Hiatal Hernia, and Peptic ulcer disease.
Many people experience symptoms such as:
- burning pain in the chest
- nausea
- difficulty swallowing
- heartburn
- a sensation that food is stuck in your esophagus
- acidic taste in your mouth
- a feeling like you’re choking or your throat is blocked
- a burning sensation
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid Reflux is when some of the stomach's acid content flows up into the esophagus as a result of too much acid.
Each of us contains an acid in our stomach called hydrochloric acid.
This strong acid helps with the efficient digestion of food and to protect against undesirable microbes such as bacteria.
The lining of the stomach is specially fitted to produce this acid and to protect the digestive organ against its own destructive secretion, but the higher gut is not protected.
A ring of muscle-the gastroesophageal sphincter-is designed to protect the esophagus from the contents of the stomach by acting as a “stopper” by not letting food back up to the esophagus.
When this stopper fails and stomach contents are fed back into the esophagus, the symptoms of acid reflux are felt, such as heartburn.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
It’s not uncommon for most of us to occasionally experience acid reflux, often associated with certain food or drink.
However, recurrent acid reflux that leads to disease has other causes and is termed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or GORD). More serious cases of GERD are associated with risk factors including:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- High intake of table salt
- Low dietary fiber intake
- Low levels of physical exercise
- Medications, including drugs for asthma, calcium-channel blockers, antihistamines, painkillers, sedatives, and antidepressants
Studies show that an abnormal curvature of the spine combined with back muscle weakness can have a substantial effect on the development of the reflux disease GERD.
Bodily mechanisms that can lead to acid reflux disease:
- An abnormal curvature of the spine will increase the pressure placed on the stomach and esophageal system; in some cases, the pressure is so severe on the stomach directly leading to the condition known as a hiatal hernia
- The altered-spinal posture alignment will cause obstruction to the digestive mechanisms responsible for the transportation of food from the stomach to the intestines.
- Neurological effects cause dysfunction within the nervous system and as a direct result stomach functions are disturbed. How are the nerves affected? Slight, moderate, and severe spinal abnormalities and misalignments in the spine will put unnecessary pressure on the nerves coming out of the spine. Since the nervous system is responsible for every function in the body these altered nerves directly lead to disorders in the stomach. Chiropractors refer to altered nerve function from altered spinal alignment as “Nerve Interference.”
Nerve Interference can destroy the amount of necessary nerve energy reaching the organs.
If not corrected, the stomach and its functions can malfunction, and eventually cause disease.
Correct Your Acid Reflux with Chiropractic Care
Many people attempt to take medications or alter their diet as a way to eliminate their discomfort and symptoms.
However, these attempts typically provide temporary relief and fail to permanently correct the condition.
Luckily, there are several ways that chiropractic care can help manage a reflux problem-and none of them involve any invasive procedures.
Chiropractic care is for much more than back pain, and it's proven to show results in corrective care techniques.
It aims to realign the spine back to health, eliminate nerve interference, and return the body back to a state of pain-free well-being.
Your chiropractor believes that a spine and body free from dysfunction and restriction is a body that can function optimally. Your chiropractor can help treat your acid reflux by helping you to:
- Manage a healthy weight
- Taking the stress off the joints and spine to help take the pressure off of nerves
- Strengthening the spinal muscles through adjustments, which help to relieve pressure from the stomach
- Correcting joint dysfunctions or restrictions that can help ensure the proper function of the whole body
Realigning the spine back to its natural form and strengthening the back muscles with chiropractic care reduces unnecessary pressure on the internal organs and allows nerve energy to flow freely throughout the body; therefore returning normal function to the stomach and other internal organs.
Contact The Arrowhead Clinic Today
If you are experiencing symptoms of Acid Reflux or are one of the millions of people that suffer from GERD, visit The Arrowhead Clinics today for a free chiropractic consultation.
We have a team of highly qualified Chiropractic Doctors experienced in treating patients with forms of injuries and problem areas.
We safely and naturally provide treatment to make your quality of life back to normal and pain-free.
It's time to make your health a priority and get the help that you need.
We welcome you to visit one of our many locations, walk-in and see us today.
.jpg)
Read our previous blog: How Chiropractors Can Prevent Injuries for Runners
