Diaphragmatic Breathing for Refractory GERD: A New Treatment Paradigm?

A four-week guided therapy in “belly breathing” was effective in reducing excessive belching and overall GERD symptoms.

Belching is a frequent if not predominant symptom in many patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Typically this is supragastric belching (SGB), which proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) do not treat.

To determine whether diaphragmatic breathing therapy (DBT) might improve excessive GERD-related belching, researchers in Singapore evaluated 36 consecutive patients with PPI-refractory GERD and severe belching, as determined by a visual analogue score. All patients had well-established GERD and no primary esophageal motility disorder. Fifteen patients underwent standardized DBT, consisting of 4 weekly one-on-one sessions with a speech therapist for 4 weeks, and 21 controls were placed on a waiting list for DBT.

After the 4-week treatment…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors