Most adults have felt the uncomfortable sensation brought on by acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at some time. In fact, nearly 60% of adults will experience it within a calendar year and 20 to 30 percent will feel it regularly. In the United States today, nearly seven million people have some symptoms of GERD. Left untreated, GERD can lead to serious health problems including Barrett’s esophagus, which can be a precursor to cancer. There are many treatment options for sufferers of acid reflux but the best treatments may surprise you.
Many times the terms acid reflux and heartburn are used interchangeably, however acid reflux is when the acids from the stomach travel up the esophagus in the wrong direction and heartburn is the actual burning sensation. Some common symptoms of acid reflux are:
- asthma
- chest pain*
- dental erosion
- dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing
- hoarseness or sore throat
- regurgitation
Some more surprising symptoms of acid reflux include:
- pain that worsens when you rest
- bitter taste in the pain
- coughing
- nausea
- excessive saliva
Many times medications are the first course of action for people with acid reflux. Medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) work by seeking to stop stomach acid production. However, low acid production is not good for digestion and these medications do not work for everyone. And even for those who do find relief through PPI’s, if they miss a pill, the burn is sure to return. In sever cases, some doctors have even made recommendations for surgery but that is definitely not the preferred course of action. The good news is there are alternative options that do not rely on daily drugs. Some things that can be done at home are to follow some simple rules that include not going to bed with a full stomach, losing a few pounds and recognizing trigger foods.
So what if you, like millions of other Americans, have tried these home remedy and medication routes but are not getting the relief that you had hoped for? One course of treatment that tends to be overlooked is Chiropractic Neurology. This course of treatment is fast-acting, drug-free and will never come with the suggestion for surgery. Chiropractic neurology seeks to uncover the root of the problem, rather than using medications to cover up symptoms. Among the most common root sources of acid reflux include hiatal hernia and ulcers, both of which are highly responsive to chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic care is the most effective treatment for a hiatal hernia and research has shown that patients with stomach ulcers who employ chiropractic treatments heal much faster than those who don’t.
The wealth of information on acid reflux and treatment through Chiropractic Neurology is growing nearly as fast as the popularity of this avenue of treatment, and with good reason. We will bring you more about this topic in the coming weeks but in the meantime, if you are suffering from acid reflux or are experiencing the symptoms discussed here and would like to learn more, please contact Dr Marc Ellis today at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center.
*If you are experiencing chest pain, check with your doctor right away to make sure you are not have a heart attack.