Acid reflux and the phrenic nerve

Acid reflux and the phrenic nerve

"Doc! I haven't had acid reflux since you started adjusting me!" I hear that almost every day. It's either heartburn, acid reflux, chest tightness, or whatever. This happens even in cases that have existed for years.

Recently, a patient happily informed his doctor about the sudden cessation of 15 years of heartburn after starting chiropractic care, to which the family doctor replied that there is no connection between spine and acid reflux, so it is impossible. I was surprised by this answer. Maybe the patient misunderstood the doctor, or simply the doctor wasn't keen on his anatomy.

The explanation is actually quite simple and the reason why so many people over the last century have seen the same result after chiropractic care.

In fact, here is a quote from an article written on the subject over 50 years ago:

"Many patients have presented to the chiropractor in desperation and have already spent thousands of dollars on cardiac and gastrointestinal tests that have proven negative. Their elusive symptoms included chest tightness, restricted breathing, heartburn, acid reflux and a borderline pulse in the abdomen. They were not only miserable but also frightened by the lack of a diagnosis. The Chiropractor's unique and practical examination revealed pressure, irritation and tenderness along the patient's neck at the level of cervical vertebrae 3, 4 or 5. After chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the misaligned spine, the symptoms often subsided slightly. “

So what is the connection between the throat and acid reflux disease? The phrenic nerve.

The phrenic nerve travels from the cervical spine at levels C3, C4 and C5 via the lungs to the diaphragm. In school, the saying “C3, 4 and 5 keeps the diaphragm alive!” was used to remember the details of the phrenic nerve.

This nerve controls the diaphragm, a thick layer of muscle that forms a floor under the lungs and heart. In order for food to get into the stomach, it has to pass through the diaphragm to get there.

It is well known that the spine can pinch a nerve and cause a tense neck or back, tingling or burning of the arm or leg. If it pinches or irritates the phrenic nerve; The diaphragm is a muscle and is subject to tension and spasms. This restricts breathing, and when spasm of the diaphragm is severe, the opening through which food flows is altered, causing acid reflux from the stomach and possibly a condition called a hiatal hernia. Likewise, the same muscle tension on the aorta and vena cava can close and cause a pounding heartbeat.

Asthma, heartburn, or tightness and pain under the ribs are often the result of a tensioned diaphragm due to pressure from the spine on the phrenic nerves.

Chiropractic care is the logical first step to solving any of these problems or preventing them so you can do what the music professor instructed: “Use your diaphragm!”

Inspired by Dr Ryan French