Heartburn And Chiropractic In Greenville SC

Like most things, chiropractic care in Greenville SC gets to the root of the problem that’s causing unfavorable symptoms. Did you know one of those things could be heartburn?

You might be thinking “Well, the root of the problem is the spicy food I ate last night. An adjustment can’t fix that!” That’s only halfway true.

While heartburn is sometimes caused by the food we eat, misalignments in our spine have a strong affect on our digestive system. And even if it is just from the spicy food you ate, you might as well feel better with an adjustment!

At THINC Chiropractic, heartburn is one of the common areas practice members note as improved by our practice members when they begin their chiropractic journey with us even if it wasn’t something they complained about at first.

What Causes Heartburn & Digestive Issues In Greenville SC?

Heartburn happens when stomach acid overflows up into the esophagus due to a weak lower esophageal sphincter - basically the valve between the stomach and esophagus does not working properly due to spasmodic movement of the valve. This valve is there to keep the acid and food in the stomach.

During these spasmodic movements of the valve, the stomach acid enters the esophagus (aka acid reflux) irritating the esophagus lining causing the sensation we know as heartburn.

Heartburn is usually mild and not something to worry about unless it starts to interfere with your daily routine. Chronic heartburn is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can require prescription medications. Since GERD can damage the esophagus, sometimes surgery is recommended in serious cases.

Individuals who tend to eat more acidic foods, fatty or fried foods, processed foods tend to develop heartburn over time. This is because it takes more stomach acid to break down these foods, so over time your stomach learns to create more acid to break down these foods.

Considering approximately 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month with about 15 million experiencing it daily, it’s becoming an increasingly common part of life.

Now only are more adults suffering from heartburn, but even babies and children are suffering at an alarming increasing rate!

• From 1998 to 2005 there was a 42% increase in the number of babies hospitalize for GERD (3).
• From 1998 to 2005 there was a 84% increase in the number of children 2-17 hospitalize for GERD (3).
• From 1998-2005, there was a 216% increase in the number of individuals, over 3.14 million up from 995,402 (1998) being hospitalize because of GERD (3).
• In 2010, 4.7 million hospitalizations and 1,653 deaths were a result of GERD, reports the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (4).

While most experience heartburn as burning in the chest or upper abdomen, some people have trouble sleeping, swallowing, pain or inflammation in their throat, and even a loss of appetite. Combined with other indigestion problems like bloating, nausea, and burping, adding heartburn quickly becomes a digestive nightmare.

Neurologically Based Chiropractic

When our spine is misaligned we have what are called subluxations. Subluxations specifically at T4, T5, or T6 can may cause spasmodic movement of the stomach value which gets in the way of our digestive system doing its job properly.

With consistent specific adjustments using our TRT method those areas of subluxations are removed which takes stress off of your nerves and joints allowing the brain and body to communicate.

Chiropractic care can also help you strengthen your back muscles and improve posture which often relieves pressure on the stomach. Less acid reflux means less damage to the esophagus over time and improved digestion.

If you have the following conditions, you may suffer from heartburn even more. Be sure to talk to your chiropractor to see if care can help.

• Pregnancy
• Hiatal hernia
• Connective tissue disorders
• Obesity
• Drinking
• Smoking

Additional Heartburn Remedies

Along with chiropractic care, making small changes to your diet and lifestyle can also improve symptoms of heartburn. These methods are sometimes effective in combating heartburn:

• Losing weight if obese
• Reducing or eliminating smoking, alcohol, and caffeine
• Reducing or eliminating anti-inflammatory medications
• Avoiding spicy and acidic foods
• Eating smaller meals
• Not lying down within 2 or 3 hours of eating

More than relief from heartburn, we want you to feel your best in all areas of life. If you’d like to know more about neurologically chiropractic care, we would love to discuss your individual health needs! We understand what it’s like trying something new especially in regards to your health, so we’ve made it easy to know what to expect on your first visit here.

Learn More

Have More Questions? You can always give us a call at (864) 735-0079 or see what we’re up to on social media. You’ll see how we do adjustments, member experiences, and smiling faces teaching you about taking care of your body!

Schedule Your Consult! Are you ready to THINC differently about your health? Read more about what to expect at your first visit here and schedule your consultation online here or give us a call at (864) 735-0079 to start your health journey!

Where Is THINC? Find our location here (579 Haywood Rd.)

Resources

• Ferranti M, Alcantrara J, Reilly A. Resolution of GERD in an infant following chiropractic care: a case report & selective review of the literature. J of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic. 2016;2:46-49.
• Budgell BS. Reflex effects of subluxation: the autonomic nervous system. JMPT. 2000;23(2): 104-106.
• P Bryner, P G Staerker. Indigestion and heartburn: a descriptive study of prevalence in persons seeking care from chiropractors. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1996 Jun;19(5):317-23.
• https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/facts-statistics-infographic#Who-gets-GERD?
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/digestive-diseases