GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is one of the most common human digestive disorder which happens when something gastric refluxes into the esophagus. When you consume foods, your digestive system starts when food travels from your mouth into the esophagus to a ring of muscles known as lower esophageal sphincter abbreviated as LES that is accountable for permitting food to pass into your stomach and then closes again. The acid reflux comes about when this valve relaxes or weakens and fails to close tightly as it should. The outcome is a painful sensation felt behind the breast bone known as heartburn that could spread out towards the throat area.
What Causes Acid Reflux
1. Impaired Stomach Function
Most acid reflux sufferers have abnormal muscle function or irregular nerves in the stomach that cause slow absorption of food and stomach acid. Because of this, emptying of stomach contents can occur which contribute to additional pressure in the stomach thus resulting to regurgitation of acid.
2. Certain Medications
There are variety of medications and over the counter prescriptions that can cause damage on the esophagus and stomach lining and even make the symptoms worse. Some of these are antibiotics, potassium, iron pills, sedatives, calcium channel blockers and others.
3. Asthma and Acid reflux
The connection between GERD and asthma is not well understood; however some 70 to 80 percent of asthma patients also have GERD. Asthma is a condition that generally affects the respiratory system and is normally manifested in the form of wheezing.
4. Foods that weaken the lower esophageal sphincter
Foods and beverages that you intake are the common culprits of acid reflux. Namely spicy foods, fatty foods, citrus and tomato products, chocolates, peppermint, soda, coffee and alcohols. These types of foods and beverages can either weaken or relax the LES. If the lower esophageal sphincter cannot work well, there is increase in the probability of acid regurgitating.
5. The Lifestyle You Have
Lifestyle choices like cigarettes and tobacco, alcohol intake, being under stress and tight clothing can contribute GERD. Vices which include drinking and smoking should be in control or better yet eliminated. Tight clothing worn around the waist area increase pressure in the stomach area. Stress has also been known to cause a great deal of acid reflux.
6. Bad Eating Habits
Eating certain types of foods is not the only reason for acid reflux, bad eating habits can also cause it to arise. Some behaviors include eating large meals, taking midnight snack, lying down immediately after eating and bending over. The key is to keep your stomach comfortable not full. In addition, instead of eating three heavy meals its more advisable to eat lighter at frequent times.
Check out the Acid Reflux Remedy for natural cures and solutions for this disease. You can also check out Natural Cures for Acid Reflux for home solutions.
categories: acid reflux,heartburn,health,health problems,heartburn,heartburn treatment
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Tags: acid reflux, Eating Disorders, health, health problems, heartburn, heartburn treatment
