Millions of people suffer from acid reflux, which causes that burning feeling in the chest. When stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, it can be mild pain or a condition that makes it impossible to function. For successful management and prevention, it’s important to know what acid reflux causes. This piece goes into detail about the different things that can cause this common digestive problem.
A dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is one of the main acid reflux causes. At the point where the oesophagus and stomach meet, there is a ring of muscles called the LES. The main thing it does is act as a barrier, letting food into the stomach while stopping stomach acid from going back up. When the LES gets weak or opens in the wrong way, stomach acid can back up into the oesophagus and burn the lining, which is what heartburn feels like. LES failure can be caused by a number of things. If you have a hiatal hernia, a disease in which a part of your stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and into your chest, the LES may not work properly, which can make acid reflux more likely.
Well-known acid reflux causes include certain foods and drinks. For example, fatty foods make it take longer for the stomach to empty, which raises the pressure inside the stomach and makes reflux more likely. In the same way, drinks with caffeine, like coffee and tea, can loosen up the LES and let acid leave. Foods like chocolate, peppermint, and spices are also often to blame for acid episodes. Alcohol drinking can also cause acid reflux because it relaxes the LES and makes the stomach produce more acid.
Acid reflux causes are greatly influenced by lifestyle factors. For example, smoking weakens the LES, which makes it less effective at stopping reflux. Also, being overweight raises the pressure in the stomach, which can push stomach acid back up into the oesophagus. Eating big meals, especially right before bed, can make acid reflux symptoms worse. When you lie down soon after eating, gravity stops helping to keep stomach acid down, which makes reflux more likely.
Acid reflux causes can also be exacerbated by stress. Even though no one knows for sure how it works, stress can change how digestion works and make stomach acid production go up, which makes acid reflux more possible. Also, people who are stressed often use unhealthy ways to deal with it, like overeating or eating foods that make them feel bad, which makes the problem even worse.
Some medicines can also be one of the acid reflux causes. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some types of asthma medicine, and some blood pressure medicines are all typical examples. These medicines may hurt the lining of the oesophagus or weaken the LES, which can make reflux symptoms worse.
Hormonal changes are one of the acid reflux causes during pregnancy, which is another time when it is common. Progesterone is a hormone that calms smooth muscles all over the body. It can also relax the LES, which increases the chance of reflux. Having a growing uterus can also put pressure on the stomach, which can make acid reflux symptoms worse.
To find specific acid reflux causes can be hard because the problem is often caused by more than one thing. Keeping a food log can help you figure out what foods set off your eating problems, and making note of any patterns that are caused by things in your life, like stress or when you eat, can also be very helpful. If making changes to your food and way of life doesn’t help control your symptoms, you need to see a doctor.
Diagnostic tests like an endoscopy or a 24-hour pH tracking study may be used to further investigate the causes of acid reflux. With an endoscopy, the doctor can look inside the stomach and oesophagus to see if there are any problems or damage. A 24-hour pH monitoring study checks the acidity levels in the oesophagus for 24 hours, giving detailed information about how often and how badly reflux events happen.
The first step in managing acid reflux effectively is to understand what acid reflux causes. By making smart decisions about their diet and lifestyle and seeing a doctor when they need to, people can greatly lower the number and severity of their symptoms, which will ultimately improve their quality of life. Heartburn happens to a lot of people sometimes, but you shouldn’t ignore acid that happens often or is very bad. Acid reflux that doesn’t go away can cause problems like oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus), Barrett’s oesophagus (changes in the lining of the oesophagus that are signs of cancer), and even oesophageal cancer. So, treating acid reflux causes right away is important for both getting rid of the symptoms and staying healthy in the long run. You should talk to your doctor about your worries and the best way to treat your specific needs if you have persistent heartburn or other symptoms of acid reflux.