Breathe Away Heartburn

How deep breathing exercises can complement GERD surgery in Macon or Atlanta
Are acid reflux and heartburn driving you up the wall? Take a deep breath—you’ll feel better. Though a visit to a GERD surgeon is the only way to rid yourself of these symptoms for good, every one of us possesses one powerful tool when it comes to reflux relief: our lungs.
Countless people across America suffer from reflux symptoms, partially due to the stress that pervades so many of our daily lives. Our worries and anxieties have an indirect impact on the functionality of our stomachs, leading acid to rise into the esophagus and contribute to all those painful problems GERD sufferers are so familiar. Free, easy and effective, deep breathing exercises can help you reduce the stress that may be at the root of your reflux issues, helping you settle your stomach and rid yourself of worries.
The mere act of taking a deep breath can naturally reduce anxieties. This is as simple as using your diaphragm to fill your lungs to capacity, then letting out a sigh of relief. However, there are several other breathing exercises you may find useful in your quest for reflux reduction:

Take a Seat, Take a Breath

Abdominal breathing exercises can be done from a sitting position, making them perfect for quick relief while at your desk. Here are the steps:

1. Sit down in a comfortable position with your chest pushed out slightly in front of the rest of your body.
2. Place one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen, then begin taking normal breaths.
3. Note how your chest and abdomen move differently as you take breaths.
4. Begin focusing every breath on your abdomen, using the diaphragm to take deep, full breaths.

You can do this exercise as little or as long as you like, but try to keep your mind focused on each abdominal breath throughout the process. Practicing this breathing exercise can help you calm down quickly to avoid a reflux episode while also naturally lower your blood pressure.

Count Your Breaths

Paying attention to the lengths of your deep breaths can become meditative, helping you relax even more. You can do this exercise in any position, but may want practicing while comfortably seated with your back straight.

1. Breathe all the air out of your lungs.
2. Count to four as you breathe in through your nose.
3. Count to seven as you hold the breath in.
4. Count to eight as you breathe everything out again.

Repeat these steps four times, or until you start to feel their calming effects. This useful exercise can be done anywhere, any time and will only become more effective with practice.
Breathing is something we all do, but learning how to do it in a more mindful and relaxing way can help you reduce the pain of GERD and take some of the stress out of your life. Do you know of any other deep breathing exercises that help with GERD symptoms? Share them with us in the comments below!