What Causes Acid Reflux? And What's The Cure?Finding an acid reflux cause isn't easy as there are many different things that can cause this problem to occur. If your symptoms are severe or chronic, you'll want to visit a doctor who will investigate what is causing the condition in your particular case. For individuals who experience acid reflux only occasionally or whose symptoms aren't severe, the exact cause probably isn't that important as simple changes in the way you eat will alleviate the problem. Acid reflux happens for many people from time to time. Most babies spit up or have wet burps from refluxing food that they've eaten. Studies have also shown that even people who do not experience symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease reflux from time to time, but the acid levels in what is refluxed is lower than for those who have the condition.
Thus, almost everyone can experience acid reflux during their lifetime. For most people, it occurs when they eat a large amount of highly acidic foods, bend over, or take a nap or recline after eating a high fat meal. Avoiding large amounts of acidic or fatty foods and staying upright for a while after eating take care of the problem for many individuals. One cause of acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscles malfunction in some way. This band of muscle closes and opens the opening between the esophagus and the stomach. In some cases, it may weaken or relax too much, allowing gastric acid back into the esophagus. This causes heartburn and the other symptoms of acid reflux. Another cause of the condition is abnormal stomach function. When the stomach muscles don't contract like they are supposed to, digestion is hindered and acid builds up in the stomach. The excess acid may then back up into the esophagus. Acid reflux can also be caused by abnormalities of the esophagus. Most of the time, these abnormalities are associated with atypical acid reflux symptoms like a chronic cough or feeling like a lump is in the throat. The muscles may contract or relax spontaneously or the abnormality may make swallowing difficult. Hiatal hernias have long been assumed to be related to persistent cases of acid reflux. Studies in the last few years have not found evidence of this. Hiatal hernias are when stomach muscles protrude through an opening in the diaphragm. The condition is common in people over 60 and although it may not cause acid reflux, it can make the symptoms worse. For individuals who occasionally get heartburn, the cause could be a build up of stomach acid from eating large meals full of high acid or high fat foods. Reclining or lying down after eating can also stimulate acid reflux. Avoiding foods that trigger the condition, staying upright after eating, and using over the counter antacids can all help prevent or treat the problem. Your doctor may be able to pinpoint an acid reflux cause if you experience severe or chronic symptoms. Most people will experience acid reflux at some point in their lives and many will never have an exact cause. Mild symptoms or occasional symptoms usually can be treated without knowing the causes of the acid reflux. |