Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acids rise up into the esophagus because the valve that separates the stomach contents from the esophagus is faulty. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Causes of Acid Reflux Disease
One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach and LES move above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from chest. Normally, the diaphragm helps keep acid in our stomach. If you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. Below are some more common causes of acid reflux disease:
Large meals: Those who have large meals will usually find that their acid reflux will improve if they cut down portion sizes. Patients who kept a food diary, noting down everything they ate and linking certain foods to incidences of acid reflux, have experienced a reduction in acid reflux.
Pregnancy: More commonly found during the third trimester of a pregnancy. As the growing baby presses on the stomach, contents may back up into the esophagus. Doctors say antacids won't relieve acid reflux caused by pregnancy. Patients find that if they eat smaller meals but eat more meals per day, it helps. In the vast majority of cases the acid reflux will disappear soon after the baby is born.
Peptic ulcers: Peptic ulcers and not enough digestive enzymes in the stomach may slow down the digestive process, causing an accumulation of gastric acids that back up into the esophagus.
Smoking: Smoking also stimulates the production of bile salts from the intestine to the stomach, [making the acids more harmful], and slows down digestion [making stomach pressure last longer because it takes more time to empty].
Alcohol: Patients have commented that quitting alcohol, or cutting down consumption significantly improved their symptoms.
Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acids rise up into the esophagus because the valve that separates the stomach contents from the esophagus is faulty. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Causes of Acid Reflux Disease
One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach and LES move above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from chest. Normally, the diaphragm helps keep acid in our stomach. If you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. Below are some more common causes of acid reflux disease:
Large meals: Those who have large meals will usually find that their acid reflux will improve if they cut down portion sizes. Patients who kept a food diary, noting down everything they ate and linking certain foods to incidences of acid reflux, have experienced a reduction in acid reflux.
Pregnancy: More commonly found during the third trimester of a pregnancy. As the growing baby presses on the stomach, contents may back up into the esophagus. Doctors say antacids won't relieve acid reflux caused by pregnancy. Patients find that if they eat smaller meals but eat more meals per day, it helps. In the vast majority of cases the acid reflux will disappear soon after the baby is born.
Peptic ulcers: Peptic ulcers and not enough digestive enzymes in the stomach may slow down the digestive process, causing an accumulation of gastric acids that back up into the esophagus.
Smoking: Smoking also stimulates the production of bile salts from the intestine to the stomach, [making the acids more harmful], and slows down digestion [making stomach pressure last longer because it takes more time to empty].
Alcohol: Patients have commented that quitting alcohol, or cutting down consumption significantly improved their symptoms.
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