Chiropractic Alignment Can Help With Acid Reflux and Digestive Problems

Acid reflux is a common digestive problem. It happens when the stomach acid flows back into the esophagus or food pipe and irritates the lining. Sensations of burning discomfort in the abdomen and chest are also known as heartburn. Other digestive problems include:

• Heartburn that can be chronic or short-term
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If there are two or more episodes a week, it can be diagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease/GERD. Symptoms usually present after eating. And symptoms can be especially pronounced if an individual lies down soon after. Additional symptoms can include:

• Feeling that the throat is blocked
• Acidic taste in the mouth
• Bad breath
• Pressure in the upper abdomen
• Cramping
• Nausea
• Inability to swallow – if trouble with swallowing and choking persists or becomes severe, seek medical attention immediately

A chiropractor can help restore the body’s spinal balance and alignment. This can promote proper digestion without acid reflux symptoms. Realigning the spine back to a healthy shape, strengthens the back muscles, reducing the mechanical pressure on the internal organs. It also circulates the nerve energy to flow freely restoring normal function to the stomach and other organs.

Acid Reflux Causes

The most common causes of acid reflux are:

• Poor posture
• Obesity
• Pregnancy from the pressure placed on the stomach
• High acidic diet – tomatoes, soda, coffee both regular/decaf, alcohol, and chocolate are common heartburn triggers
• Hypersensitivity to certain foods
• Nerve interference from the spine to the organs
• Prescription medication/s
• Smoking
• Hiatal hernia

It has to do with something altering the body’s ability to generate digestive enzymes, acid, or a structural misalignment issue that can lead to disrupted digestion and acid reflux symptoms. When the body is out of alignment it can lead to aching hips, sore back, neck, and shoulders.

A misaligned spine can cause improper digestion and movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. Proper posture is a lot more than just keeping the body straight. Incorrect posture can lead to kyphosis, the spinal column rounding, which can cause the spine to push on areas where there is normally, no pressure. Two are the gastric and stomach areas.  

Digestion

Common treatment options for acid reflux include:

• Diet adjustments
• Learning to eat less food at a slower pace
• Weight loss
• Quitting smoking
• Posture education
• Adopting a standing posture after eating allowing for optimal digestion

Medications can also be utilized like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and anti-depressants. However, they may need to be modified as they can affect the efficiency of the esophageal sphincter.

A chiropractor will address the spinal misalignment that is affecting the body’s nerve flow for proper digestion. Once the body is in balance the physical process of proper digestion is restored. Along with synapses from the autonomic system, which is where digestion is controlled will be able to fire without interference. Additional chiropractic treatments that can benefit include:

• Health coaching
• Soft tissue therapy
• Core strengthening for stomach pressure alleviation

Talk with a chiropractor to go through treatment options. Everyone is different, and so each treatment plan is unique to the individual’s needs and condition. Poor digestion and acid reflux affect the proper absorption of nutrients and minerals that can affect normal bodily processes. Chiropractic can get an individual back to normal digestive regulation.

Effective Chiropractic Therapy

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References

Angus, Katherine et al. “What effect does chiropractic treatment have on gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: a narrative review of the literature.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association vol. 59,2 (2015): 122-33.