People with milder heartburn problems might find some relief from deep breathing exercises, a small clinical trial suggests.

The study, of 19 adults with mild gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, found "belly breathing" exercises seemed to help reduce acid reflux and eventually lessen the need for acid-suppressing medication.

The findings, reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, hint that some people might be able to breathe their way to greater heartburn relief.

If the breathing exercises are proven to help some people with GERD, it would be a welcome addition to the heartburn arsenal, says Dr Neil Toribara, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver, who was not involved in the study.

Anything that can help people curb their reliance on medication - which can have side effects - "would be a good thing", Toribara says.