How Chiropractic Can Help GERD

Steven Battaglino

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]astroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acid is allowed to leak back into the esophagus. This seepage occurs when the valve at the top of the stomach remains slightly open, and has various causes. There is a muscle which keeps the valve between the esophagus and stomach tightly closed after a meal, thereby keeping stomach contents in the stomach after a meal. When it is weak or relaxed, the contents are allowed to push back up into the esophagus. Due to the high acidity level of the stomach this leaking can cause irritation to the lining of the esophagus. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD but other symptoms may include nausea after a meal, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. Besides these immediate symptoms, GERD can increase the risk of esophageal cancer if left untreated.

Let’s take a moment to consider swallowing. We do it every day, so it’s quite easy to take this crucial function for granted. We may imagine a slide between our mouth and stomach that we can just drop food down, but in reality, swallowing is achieved only through a sequence of complex and coordinated muscular contractions. Nerves which exit the spine at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades provide the necessary communication the body needs to swallow properly and begin digestion in the stomach. Pressure on these nerves caused by spinal misalignments can cause a lack of coordination of the throat muscles, a loosening of the stomach valve, or incorrect acid release in the stomach.

Chiropractic can help with GERD in a number of ways. First and foremost, restoring proper spinal alignment relieves pressure on the nerves which control the esophagus and stomach, allowing for proper swallowing and stomach function. This is achieved by restoring proper alignment with chiropractic ‘adjustments’, which are gentle, specific corrections by hand to the areas which are out of place. A good chiropractor can also assess you for what’s called a hiatal hernia, and correct it when it exists. Hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the top of the stomach pushes up through the valve, thus keeping the valve open to release stomach acid. Your chiropractor can also recommend supplements which can help eliminate harmful bacteria in the stomach, like Heliobacter Pylori, heal damage to the esophagus, and restore an optimal level of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. Heliobacter Pylori is a strain of bacteria which is commonly found in the stomach of chronic heartburn patients.

Heartburn medication (Tagamet, Prilosec, Pepsid) are a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists. These drugs cause a variety of negative side effects, stop the absorption of vitamin B12, cause higher risk of bone demineralization, and cause a dependency on the drug, with worsening symptoms if patients discontinue taking them. Chiropractic is a crucial part of recovery from GERD. It’s natural, safe, and is interested in eliminating the cause of the problem, rather than masking the symptoms with drugs.