To understand acid reflux causes you should first understand that acid reflux is the burning effect that occurs due to regurgitation of food that is partly digested together with the stomach acids back into the esophagus. The burning effect is intensified due to the fact that there is insufficient mucous protection in the esophagus compared to the stomach.
Main Acid Reflux Causes
Researchers have shown that apart from lifestyle factors, acid reflux causes extend to anatomical conditions and other medical conditions. Generally, the following factors can be attributed to frequent acid reflux:
-Failure of the sphincter muscle: The sphincter muscle acts like a non-return valve that allows food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach thus preventing the stomach content from flowing back into the esophagus. When the muscles are relaxed, the sphincter fails and the backflow of stomach acids mixed with partly digested food causes some inflammation leading to acid reflux health problem.
-Hiatus hernia: This is experienced due to protrusion of the stomach (mainly upper portion) into the chest through an opening within the diaphragm. This condition may occur due to straining, coughing, pregnancy, sudden physical exertion or vomiting. Hiatus hernia ranges between 1 and 4 centimeters and can be treated through appropriate fundoplication surgeries. Patients suffering from hiatus hernia have been found to be susceptible to acid reflux.
-Pregnancy: Pregnancy is also among the major acid reflux causes. Progestin hormones, once elevated can lower the sphincter muscle pressure and cause backflow of stomach acidic contents leading to acid reflux. In addition, the growing uterus increases pressure on the stomach and this may lead to opening of the sphincter muscle again causing acid reflux.
-Gastroparesis: This is a condition that is experienced when food digestion is slow. Stomach acids come out and since the food doesn’t leave the stomach as usual, there is accumulation of acids and food. These finally find their way into the esophagus leading to inflammations and acid reflux occurs.
-Bisphosphonates: This group of drugs used as a medication for osteoporosis in women, occasionally causes acid reflux.
Preventable Acid Reflux Causes
-Obesity: Obesity causes increased pressure around the stomach area. The increased pressure may exceed the pressure of the sphincter muscles leading to escape of some stomach content into the esophagus leading to acid reflux. Continued pressure may cause permanent relaxation of the sphincter muscles leading to chronic acid reflux.
-Poor eating habits: Having very large meals can lead to accumulation of food in the stomach. The food together with the stomach acids soon find their way out through the only possible opening (the sphincter muscle) leading to acid reflux.
Finally, it is worth noting that acid reflux emanating from lifestyle factors can be treated by the patients themselves through a change of lifestyle. For instance, one can decrease the effects of acid reflux by a big percentage through reducing chocolate and caffeine intake as these beverages may worsen their acid reflux condition. In addition, patients should do some physical exercise to lose weight and relieve the stomach from excessive pressures. On the other hand, those who smoke should stop to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Also note, all acid reflux causes can be treated following the correct procedure.
