What Causes Acid Reflux?

Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most
prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet Acid reflux occurs
during digestion, when the stomach churns up acid or refluxes it
into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or
throat So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato
sauces and/or fatty, fried foods, the stomach has to process an
overabundance of acid Too much acid can push back through a
valve between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES) Acid reflux culprits include but are
not limited to tomato based sauces, fried and fatty foods,
chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated
beverages
Along the same lines as diet, overeating also causes reflux
When you overeat, the stomach can’t keep up with the demand to
process all the acids So food gets backed up, and digestive
acids infiltrate the esophageal valve to cause that unpleasant
burning feeling centered in the chest
Also diet-related, another acid reflux cause is being
overweight There is a clear correlation between being
overweight and a notable increase in the occurrence of acid
reflux Many believe this is because the extra weight puts more
pressure on the stomach and esophagus This pressure has been
known to open the lower esophageal sphincter (esophagus valve),
when the valve should be closed This allows acid to escape into
the esophagus
Other factors that create a predisposition for acid reflux
include smoking, use of alcohol, food allergies, certain
medications, and lying down after meals As you can tell, most
of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral
modifications In fact, in many cases of recurrent acid reflux,
lifestyle changes are all that is necessary in preventing
heartburn from becoming a chronic disease Remember to consult a
physician before embarking on any treatment strategy

Tags | allergies, beverages, burning, disease, esophageal, foods, lifestyle, overeating, predisposition, reflux, sensation, sphincter, strategy, treatment