What Is Acid Reflux Disease? | Causes of Acid Reflux | Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease
What Causes Acid Reflux Disease?
Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease
At the entrance to your stomach is a valve, which is a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Normally, the LES closes as soon as food passes through it. If the LES doesn’t close all the way or if it opens too often, acid produced by your stomach can move up into your esophagus. This can cause symptoms such as a burning chest discomfort called heartburn. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you may have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
What Causes Acid Reflux Disease?
1. One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach and LES move above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from your chest. The diaphragm helps keep acid in our stomach.
2. Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
3. Being overweight or obese
4. Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back
5. Snacking close to bedtime
6. Eating certain foods
7. Drinking certain beverages
8. Smoking
9. Being pregnant
10. Taking aspirin,certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications
Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease
1. Heartburn: a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, or even up into your throat
2. Regurgitation: a sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into your throat or mouth
3. Bloating-Bloating is when your belly feels swollen after eating.
4. Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting
5. Burping– Burping is the release of gas from the digestive tract through the mouth.
6. Dysphagia-the sensation of food being stuck in your throat
7. Nausea-Nausea is pronounced stomach discomfort and the sensation of wanting to vomit.
8. Weight loss for no known reason
9. Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat