Tired of an unsettled stomach and unpredictable digestion?
Bloating after meals, cramps, constipation or sudden urgency can make you plan your whole day around your stomach. Changing what you eat helps many people, but it does not always tell the whole story. Upper cervical care starts somewhere you might not expect: the top of your neck, and the nerve pathways that run through the neck.
What are digestive issues?
“Digestive issues” is a broad term for ongoing trouble anywhere along the digestive tract, from the stomach to the bowel. It includes conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation and food sensitivities. A medical doctor can look for the cause and rule out anything serious. Symptoms often flare with stress, certain foods or changes in routine.
See a medical doctor promptly for blood in your stool, black stools, vomiting blood, trouble swallowing, severe or lasting belly pain, or weight loss you cannot explain.
Common signs include:
- Bloating and gas
- Constipation, diarrhea or both
- Stomach cramps or belly pain
- Nausea or feeling full too quickly
- Urgent or irregular bowel movements
- Tiredness or discomfort after meals
- Food intolerances, or a diet low in fiber and fluids
- Stress and anxiety, which strongly affect the gut
- Infections or a past stomach illness
- Irregular meals or eating in a rush
- Certain medications and supplements
- Conditions such as IBS, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease
What causes digestive issues?
Digestion depends on food, gut bacteria, hormones and the nervous system working together, so trouble can come from:
The gut and the brain are in constant conversation, partly through the vagus nerve, which runs from the brainstem down through the neck to the digestive tract. Upper cervical chiropractors look at the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) to see whether strain at the top of the neck may be affecting that line of communication.
How upper cervical care can help
Your body digests best in “rest and digest” mode, which the autonomic nervous system controls. When you are tense, stressed or holding your body out of balance, digestion can slow down or become irregular. Upper cervical care looks for a small misalignment at the top of the neck that may be adding to that tension, and uses a gentle adjustment to ease it.
Our goal is to ease strain at the top of the neck and help you feel more comfortable in your body, working alongside the changes in food, hydration and habits that your doctor or dietitian recommends. Results vary, and we make no promise about your symptoms. If they are new, getting worse or worrying, see a medical doctor first.
The gut and stress
Stress often shows up in the stomach first. Easing neck and shoulder tension is one way we aim to help your body feel calmer, alongside the habits your doctor recommends.
Posture and the belly
Slouching can press on the belly and make a full stomach more uncomfortable. Our posture evaluation shows how you hold yourself, so we can look at how that relates to your comfort after eating.
Alongside food changes
Food, fluids, fiber and sleep matter a great deal. Upper cervical care is not a diet plan. It is meant to sit beside the changes you and your doctor or dietitian are making.
A plan from your exam
Your plan starts from your own exam and 3D images of your neck, not from a list of symptoms. That keeps care focused on what is going on at the top of your spine.
What to expect
Day 1
Your first visit
A consultation with the doctor at the office you choose, a thorough exam, and 3D imaging of your cervical spine with our CBCT scanner. We also do a detailed posture evaluation with advanced software, neurological testing and muscle assessments.
Day 2
Your report of findings
The doctor goes over your history, your exam and posture results, your neurological findings and your 3D images with you, and explains a care plan made for you.
Ongoing
Gentle care, checked as you go
Gentle upper cervical adjustments with no twisting, cracking or popping, and regular progress checks so your plan follows how you are doing.
Why choose Apollo?
Specialized care
We focus on upper cervical chiropractic, a highly targeted and refined approach.
A plan made for you
Every patient is different. Your care plan is built around your own exam and your 3D imaging.
Gentle, with no cracking
Our methods are very gentle: no twisting, cracking or popping.
An experienced doctor
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos brings deep clinical experience and a caring, detail-oriented approach to every visit.
Every person is different, and results vary. Read what our patients say on our testimonials page.
Let us help you get started
If you are dealing with digestive trouble, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and find out whether upper cervical chiropractic care is right for you.
Related conditions we help with
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- High Blood Pressure
- Acid Reflux
- Allergies
- See every condition
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, please seek medical care right away.