Hiatal Hernia Chiropractic Care
According to research, hiatal hernias are a common condition affecting about 20% of people in the United States. A hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. This condition can cause heartburn, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.
A hiatal hernia can be aggravated by pregnancy, obesity, or straining bowel movements. Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center, located in Westlake Village, provides hiatal hernia chiropractic care to help patients find relief.
Why Do People Get Hiatal Hernias?
There are a few reasons why hiatal hernias can develop. First, the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities, called the diaphragm, may be weakened. This weakness can happen due to aging, pregnancy, or other factors. Second, other organs, such as the liver, may push the stomach into the chest cavity. Third, the opening in the stomach's diaphragm may be too large. This opening can be due to congenital disabilities or previous surgery.
What Are the Symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia?
The most common symptom of a hiatal hernia is heartburn. This symptom occurs when stomach acids escape from the stomach and travel up into the esophagus. Other symptoms can include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must see your doctor for an evaluation. Moreover, hiatal hernias can sometimes lead to more severe conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or ulcers.
How Is a Hiatal Hernia Diagnosed?
Your medical doctor will likely start with a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. Then, they may order tests, such as an X-ray, endoscopy, or esophageal pH test. An X-ray can show whether the stomach is protruding into the chest cavity. Endoscopy allows your medical doctor to see inside your esophagus and stomach. The esophageal pH test measures the acidity in your esophagus. This test can help determine whether you have GERD.
What Is the Treatment for a Hiatal Hernia?
The treatment for a hiatal hernia depends on the severity of your symptoms. If you have mild symptoms, you can manage them with lifestyle changes, such as avoiding trigger foods, losing weight, and not smoking. Your medical doctor may also recommend over-the-counter medications, such as antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). However, your medical doctor may recommend surgery to repair the hiatal hernia if you have severe symptoms.
Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Our chiropractors will use spinal adjustments to ease pressure on the nerves and muscles. As well as other techniques like Visceral Manipulation to gently help the stomach and surrounding organs to move more smoothly with in their normal location. For a hiatal hernia this would look and feel like gently guiding the organs down away from the diaphragm relieving the feeling of upward pressure. Your Chiropractors at Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center are also very well versed in nutritional and herbal supplementation specifically for these issues. These techniques can help reduce pain and discomfort of a hiatal hernia.
Make an Appointment with Us Today
If you're suffering from hiatal hernia symptoms, chiropractic care can help. At Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center, CA, we provide hiatal hernia chiropractic care to help our patients find relief. Contact us today at (805) 468-4437 to schedule an appointment or visit us in Westlake Village.
