Acid reflux disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that affects the esophagus. When stomach acid moves up into the esophagus on a regular basis, the person is considered to be diagnosed with the condition.
Millions of people worldwide have acid reflux and they exhibit symptoms like heartburn, nausea and regurgitation. There are numerous symptoms of the condition, and there are also several acid reflux causes.
Hiatal Hernia:
You have a hiatal hernia when the small hiatus opening in your diaphragm that connects the esophagus to the stomach gets damaged and part of the stomach protrudes into it. When this occurs, acid can move from the stomach to the esophagus much easier. This type of hernia can lead to the acid reflux symptoms happening. Hiatal hernias are not considered very dangerous, and are quite common in people over the age of 60.
Obesity And Overweight:
There is a close link between acid reflux and obesity, which is not completely understood. As more people are becoming overweight, the causes of acid reflux disease have increased as well. It is possible that having a bad diet and added pressure on the mid-section may be reasons why those who are overweight may get acid reflux.
Pregnancy:
About half of pregnant women develop symptoms consistent with acid reflux disease. The heavy pressure on the stomach and changes in hormones, make pregnancy a common cause of this condition. An expecting mother can benefit from eating healthier foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and taking antacids. The baby can place a lot of added pressure on the stomach and mothers should avoid laying down right after eating meals.
Hypercalcemia:
Hypercalcemia is an elevated level of calcium in the blood that is almost always brought on by primary hyperparathyroidism. When there is too much calcium in the body it can lead to stomach irritation and an increase in acid production. Heartburn medication often contains considerable amounts of calcium, so when someone who has hypercalcemia takes these drugs, it can make the condition worse. The increase in gastrin can also lead to more acid production, causing acid reflux.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES):
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES) is the disorder that causes tumors on the pancreas and causes the stomach to generate more acid than normal. This rare disease typically increases gastric acid discharge by approximately 50%. The increase in acid production makes this condition one that goes hand in hand with acid reflux. Having abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea are also common side effects of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.
Acid Reflux Diet:
A common trigger for acid reflux is certain foods and drinks. Fatty foods, like those that are fried, can set off acid reflux. Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits in large amounts should be avoided as well. Drinks that are high in caffeine like coffee and soda will not help either. Beer can do a real job on the stomach by producing a lot of extra acid after being consumed.
There are many acid reflux causes that should be paid close attention to. Knowing when you are at higher-risk and avoiding the things that can start it, is your safest bet. Eating healthy and being careful with what you do to your body are excellent ideas to avoid acid reflux.