Are you feeling a burning sensation in your chest (heartburn) after eating or late at night? Do you have difficulty swallowing and chest pain? Is there a sensation of a lump in your throat or do you regurgitate food or a sour liquid? You may be experiencing GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. 

GERD is a digestive disorder that is caused when stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining. This chronic disease is a result of continuous exposure of stomach acid to the food pipe, which causes it to wear down and become irritated. But what causes the bile to enter the food pipe? 

A hiatal hernia could be the culprit behind your heartburn and GERD symptoms. Hiatal hernias do not go away on their own and often your doctor will recommend surgery to repair the damage; however, there’s another, non-invasive option to soothe GERD symptoms and repair a hiatal hernia.

What Is A Hiatal Hernia?

The esophagus bisects the diaphragm, a muscular structure separating the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. The opening through which the esophagus passes is called the esophageal hiatus. This opening allows food to pass from the mouth to the stomach.

A hiatal hernia is when a portion of the stomach protrudes through the esophageal hiatus from the abdominal cavity into the chest cavity. There are sensitive nerves in this area that may also pass through the esophageal hiatus and become pinched, causing pain and health problems.

There are two types of hiatal hernias. A sliding hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach moves up into the chest cavity. If another abdominal organ moves through the hiatal opening, it is called a paraesophageal hernia.

What Causes A Hiatal Hernia?

Hiatal hernias have a number of causes, typically related to physical stress that puts strain on the stomach and esophagus, but it could also be related to muscle weakness. Common causes of hiatal hernias include:

• Older age
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Trauma to the area

Activities such as weight lifting or physical labor could cause hiatal hernias as well as medical conditions, such as asthma, lung pathologies, and constipation.

A hiatal hernia doesn’t always cause problems, but when symptoms do occur and interfere with daily living, then often the only treatment offered to patients is surgery. However, there is a non-invasive, natural option to repair the damage and return the stomach to the abdominal cavity. 

What Can Chiropractic Care Do For a Hiatal Hernia?

Chiropractors can treat not only GERD issues related to a hiatal hernia, but also those associated with nerve communication. 

Repairing Nerve Communication

For proper digestion, your organs use nerves to communicate. The stomach uses the vagus nerve to send signals to the brain, while the brain replies through spinal nerves. If these nerves become pinched or otherwise disrupted, there may be issues with digestion, including symptoms associated with GERD, such as heartburn or an excess or underproduction of stomach acid. 

Your chiropractor can provide a treatment plan that includes spinal manipulation to address nerve issues. Chiropractic care can help improve digestive processes within the body by improving nerve communication, but also by addressing a hernia itself.

Repairing Hiatal Hernias

A hiatal hernia allows stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. However, your chiropractor can manipulate the soft tissues, repositioning the stomach to its proper location within the abdominal cavity. 

Once the stomach is back in its right place within the body, the sphincter in the esophagus then stays closed to irritating stomach acids. Rather than relying on medicines, which only treat the symptoms, or surgery, which can be dangerous, chiropractic care addresses the source of the problem naturally.

How Can Chiropractors Help With Diet and Exercise?

In order to fully address GERD symptoms, you should make positive lifestyle changes to your diet and exercise and your chiropractor can help.

Chiropractic services include suggestions and guidance with proper diet, including the best foods for weight loss or avoiding GERD symptoms. Additionally, your chiropractor can offer stretches, exercises, and routines which when properly followed, can help ensure that you don’t develop another hiatal hernia and that you remain happily healthy.

If you’re looking for a holistic approach to help with heartburn and GERD, consider exploring chiropractic care. Your initial evaluation will properly lay out a thorough treatment plan that is unique to your situation and condition. To move forward with chiropractic, schedule an appointment online or call us today.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional.