Acid Reflux and Back Pain: Partners in Crime

You may have never put the two together but acid reflux and back pain ncan be connected. Whether they present themselves together or nseparately, the pain can be excruciating. Understanding the connection nwill help alleviate symptoms.

Acid reflux is the result of acid rising up the esophagus from the nstomach. The acid is necessary aid to digestion but it is supposed to nstay in the stomach where it is produced. When the flap at the top of nthe stomach is not working to keep the acid there where it belongs, acid nreflux occurs.

The pain and discomfort caused by acid reflux can range from mild nheartbu
to severe stabbing pain. It might occur only occasionally and ncan be remedied with over the counter medicine or it might be a daily nproblem that requires a prescription to ease the pain.

Acid reflux pain can range from very low in the abdomen all the way up nthe chest. The pain radiates so that unless you are aware of having the ncondition, you may not even be able to pin point is origin. In addition nto the stomach and chest, the pain sears at your sides like a cramp and nup your back and neck. The upper back and neck pain is most commonly ndescribed as stabbing and it feels like you are being stabbed through nthe chest and out the back and shoulder blades.

When the back pain in question is lower back pain, more thought has to nbe put into the whole picture. If you suffer from chronic lower back npain, however, there is a good chance that this is related to your acid nreflux, as well, but not as a direct result of the actual acid reflux nattack.

Doctors recommend not eating near bedtime, as well as sleeping with the nhead and upper body slightly elevated. The experimenting and change in nposition and habit puts stress on the lower back, especially if the nexperimenting puts your body in improper alignment. The reason the nconnection is not made immediately to the acid reflux is because the ndamage occurs over time, applying a little more strain each night, so nthat when the pain actually presents itself, the reflux does not come to nmind. In fact, it is commonly blamed on something else that recently nhappened and another thought is not given to it.

The best course of action for acid reflux and the back pain that naccompanies it is to eat a balanced diet and not over eat in a sitting, nas well as daily exercise including yoga which strengthens the muscles nin your back and stomach as well as improves your posture.