Acid Reflux Causes and Prevention

Acid reflux causes vary from person to person but occur as a result of digestive acids flowing back to the mouth, via the oesophagus,instead of remaining within the stomach. This results in heartburn, discomfort and an acidic taste in the mouth. This generally happens due to malfunctioning of the sphincter or the muscular ring at the end of the esophagus that is supposed to prevent such occurrence and is medically termed as GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Acid reflux or GERD can be quite distressing to the sufferer and may cause permanent damage to the esophageal tissues and the larynx if not properly identified and treated timely.

The fact is there is a lot of debate on the subject of acid reflux causes. The medical profession is still not very sure about it. Some of the things that directly contribute to acid reflux symptoms are smoking, overeating, stress and a diet that is high in salt and fatty foods. A hiatal hernia is a condition that can also exacerbate the symptoms of acid reflux, as does obesity and pregnancy. All three of these conditions put additional pressure on the abdominal area which can be why they are all considered causes of acid reflux. Peptic ulcers and an insufficiency of digestive enzymes in the stomach can also be conditions that cause stomach acids to build up and back up. It has also been found that people with asthma and diabetes have a higher incidence of acid reflux disease.

Acid Reflux is Preventable

In some cases a large meal may trigger off symptoms of acid reflux. This can easily be prevented by cutting down portion sizes. Since certain foods may act as triggers for symptoms keeping a food diary and learning to avoid foods that are potential acid reflux causes will help keep the problems associated with the disease in check. Some doctors will recommend staying away from caffeine, alcohol and smoking. While these do not necessarily cause acid reflux, they all can make current symptoms worse. Another way to reduce the uncomfortable effects of acid reflux is by avoiding lying down after eating a meal. This position can make it easier for digestive acids to move in the wrong direction. You can also elevate your upper body at night while sleeping to avoid waking up with painful heartburn in the morning or even in the middle of the night.

Probable line of treatment

Whatever the cause of acid reflux there are many lines of treatment available which are based on the severity of the condition. All the person needs is help from a medical expert and some investigations and the acid reflux causes should well be a thing of the past.

Tags: Acid Reflux, acid-reflux-causes, Acid-Reflux-Information, acid-reflux-prevention, GERD, symptoms-of-acid-reflux

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