Breathing, Heartburn and Acid Reflux

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks--

 

I though that some of you might be interested in this short article

from my website on the relationship of breathing to heartburn and

acid reflux disease.

 

" If you watch television on a regular basis, you have undoubtedly

seen ads for a variety of prescription and non-prescription drugs to

reduce or eliminate the symptoms of heartburn, one of the fastest

growing medical complaints in today's fast-food, stress-filled world.

Yet many of us are unaware that heartburn, especially chronic

heartburn, is often associated with a serious medical problem called

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also sometimes called acid

reflux disease.

 

Those of us suffering from acid reflux disease, which is related to

the inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, will

be interested to know that how we breathe may well influence this

disease. A study published in The American Journal of Physiology (May

30, 1995), for example, discussed the relationship of partial

expiration and hyperventilation on the gastroesophageal junction. The

abstract of the study concluded by stating: " The breathing patterns

of partial expiration and hyperventilation have significant influence

on esophageal motor function. Abnormal breathing pattern may be

involved in the pathogenesis of esophageal motor dysfunction. "

Another study at the Department of Internal Medicine at the

University of Virginia at Charlottesville concluded that the

inhibition of the " crural diaphragm during transient lower esophageal

sphincter relaxation may play an important role in facilitating flow

across the gastroesophageal junction. " In other words, there is some

evidence that an overly tight crural diaphragm (the part of the

diaphragm composed of muscular strands that attach to the lumbar

spine) causes inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal

sphincter.

 

To understand the possible significance of these studies with regard

to the way we breathe, it is important to remember, first of all,

that the esophagus traverses an opening in the diaphragm to reach the

stomach, and that there is a sphincter at the entrance to the stomach

that must relax for the food we have eaten to enter the stomach.

Relaxation of this sphincter takes place mainly when we swallow and

when food is traveling through our esophagus into our stomach.

Relaxation of the sphincter at other times allows a flow from the

stomach upward, which can cause inflammation of the esophagus and

throat. If left untreated, ongoing inflammation can have many serious

effects on our health, including ulceration and cancer of the

esophagus. These studies seem to suggest that poor breathing habits,

including chronic hyperventilation and incomplete exhalation, may

well be involved in acid reflux disease.

 

If you do have acid reflux, it is imperative that you work to improve

your breathing. The key is to learn how to exhale as completely as

possible and to breathe with more of your whole body, especially your

belly. " Excellent first exercises are the belly-breathing and straw-

breathing practices on my website. I also offer some other tips if

you do have heartburn and/or acid reflux.

 

With my best wishes to all,

 

Dennis Lewis

http://www.authentic-breathing.com