The Many Causes Of Acid Reflux

Many of us will eat foods that will give us heartburn and we will take something that will get rid of it just as fast as it came. However, when it escalates and it starts to affect someone more frequently it has turned into a whole new condition. There are many things that could be causing acid reflux.

Stomach Not Working Properly

Tests performed on patients who suffer from acid reflux disease showed that half of them have abnormal muscle and nerve function in the stomach. These problems will cause impaired motility - which simply means that they are not able to work at the right speed. Because of this the stomach will not be able to empty its contents quickly and can cause the acid in the stomach to travel back up to the esophagus.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter Muscles Not Working Properly

The LES is a group of muscle tissue that will close an open the lower end of the esophagus and works to maintain a pressure barrier against what is in the stomach. This is one of the most complex areas of the stomach muscles and also contains certain hormones. When this area is weakened the LES will not be able to close all the way when the food is emptying into the stomach.

Inherited Problems

Some people will inherit structural or muscular problems in the esophagus and the stomach that will increase their risk for acid reflux disease. It will also put them at a high risk for the precancerous condition known as Barret’s esophagus - which is caused by a severe form of acid reflux disease.

Asthma

Half of patients that have been diagnosed with asthma will also have acid reflux disease. Health experts say that coughing and sneezing followed by asthma attacks can change the pressure in the chest that will trigger acid reflux. Also some of the medications that asthma patients use will dilate the airways and also relax the LES muscles.