An Austrian study published in 2012 found that people practising 15 minutes of diaphragm breathing exercises a day reduced gastric reflux symptoms and medication use by 75%. (i)
Gastric reflux (heartburn), is usually treated with medications that either neutralize or “turn off” gastric acid production in the stomach. The problem with this is that gastric reflux is almost always caused by a lack of stomach acid, rather than an overproduction. Further, gastric reflux is commonly related to hiatal hernia and this is where diaphragmatic breathing comes in.
The diaphragm: forget biceps – if you suffer from gastric reflux then tone this muscle
A poorly functioning diaphragm is known to be a part of the hyperventilation pattern of breathing. The body responds to the need to over-breathe by activating the upper chest muscles to breathe. When this pattern exists the diaphragm often ends up in a chronically descended and flattened position and cannot relax, a state known as paradoxical breathing.
But wait there’s more: Hyperventilation and paradoxical breathing contribute to keeping a person in flight or fight which can cause indigestion.
Diaphragm breathing exercises are thought to help normalise the breathing and activates the parasympathetic. The breathing exercises help turn off the fight or flight or flight, easing digestion. Correct use of the diaphragm helps correct paradoxical breathing and tones the diaphragm. This helps correct the hiatal hernia, unlike proton pump inhibitors that are only trying to suppress acid production.
Contact the Buteyko Breathing Clinic on 09-360 6291 to learn how we can help you overcome symptoms of gastric reflux without need for medication.
Reprinted from Ponsonby News June 2014 issue