What is the first thing you have been told to do for acid reflux? Were you told to take an ANTacid? Can you see how this will not fix the problem. Antacids will provide some temporary relief with acid reflux but they will only make the problem worse in the long run.
As experienced chiropractors in Augusta GA, Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic has helped a large number of acid reflux sufferers with their condition, by treating the cause of their condition, instead of merely covering up the symptoms with prescription medications.
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is a common condition in which stomach acid flows backward up the esophagus (the tube carries food from the mouth to the stomach), causing symptoms such as a burning feeling in the chest (heartburn) and a bitter or sour taste in the mouth.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux (Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease)
Common symptoms associated with Acid Reflux (GERD) include:
1. Heartburn.
2. Burning pain in chest.
3. Nausea.
4. Difficulty swallowing.
5. Sensation that food is stuck in your esophagus.
What is the difference between acid reflux and heartburn?
Acid reflux and heartburn are often used interchangeably. Acid reflux is the movement, the action of stomach acids going up the wrong way, while heartburn refers to the burning sensation.
Why Medications Aren’t the Answer to your Acid Reflux
The typical medical treatment is to prescribe drugs like Nexium or Previcid that block the production of acid. The result is low acid production and that is not good for digesting your food. This eventually can lead to “leaky gut syndrome” due to poor digestion and the resulting putrification of your food which damages the lining of the gut wall allowing undigested proteins to seep through into the blood stream. Not a good thing.
An expensive and stressful way of correcting the hiatal hernia is in the hospital with an operation. The abdominal wall is opened up surgically and the stomach is manually pulled down out of the cardiac sphincter.
How chiropractic can help with Acid Reflux
First, chiropractic is the most effective means of treating a hiatal hernia, a common but often overlooked cause of GERD. A hiatal hernia is when the top part of your stomach “pops through” (herniates through) your diaphragm. The diaphragm muscle pinches the top part of your stomach and can cause reflux. A chiropractor trained in reducing hiatal hernias can fix this rapidly and your troubles are over.
The second way chiropractic can help is through manipulation of the spine. Research has shown that people with stomach ulcers who receive chiropractic adjustments heal much faster than people who do not. Often people who suffer from GERD and/or stomach ulcers develop pain in the upper back-between the shoulder blades. This is because the nerve supply is the same to both areas. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper back can “reconnect” the nerve supply to the esophagus and stomach.
If you are suffering from acid reflux, call our office today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced chiropractor in Augusta GA, and together we can discuss what can be done for your condition. You can also visit our website to read success stories of our patients who were able to successfully get treated for their acid reflux.
The Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic Blog is written by Dr. Mark Huntsman.
Augusta GA Chiropractors Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic provides customized chiropractic care to the Augusta, Martinez, and Evans GA communities. Visit our main website at www.georgia-clinic.com for customized chiropractic in Augusta GA.
Choose several options to schedule your appointment: call (706) 814-5053, use our online voicemail, or use our online form.
