GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), often called acid reflux, is a highly uncomfortable condition that effects a surprisingly high number of people throughout the world.
GERD occurs when stomach acid reflux or travel back up into the esophagus.
There are many causes of GERD, and the causes can be vastly different amongst people. The three main causes of GERD I will be looking at in this article are dietry effects, pregnancy and smoking. These are three of the most common causes of GERD!
What you eat is a major factor in whether you will suffer from GERD or not. It’s true, some people can freely eat and never suffer from GERD. The most common foods that will cause GERD and bring upon acid reflux include citrus fruits (oranges etc), caffeine, fried foods, chocolate, onions and spicy foods. These foods can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, therefore letting acids into the esophagus and causing GERD or heart burn. Therefore it is essential to watch what you eat if you are prone to GERD.
Pregnant women may find they are suffering from reflux for the first time in their lives.
This is not because the baby is pushing on your insides, contrary to popular belief. GERD occurs during pregnancy because hormonal levels change which in effect can cause the lower esophageal sphincter (valve) to be more relaxed than usual. The digestive system has also slowed down during pregnancy, making GERD a common occurance. If you are suffering from GERD during pregnancy do not worry, but keep an eye out if it continues once you have had your baby.
It is not unusual to hear that smoking can cause almost every disease known to mankind. GERD is no exception. If you smoke, you are at increased risk of suffering from heartburn. Smoking causes your LES (lower esophageal sphincter) to relax, just the same as particular foods can. Because smokers produce less saliva than non-smokers, the saliva can not neutralize stomach acid as well. It is for this purpose that smokers will suffer from GERDat a much higher rate than non-smokers.
As you have learnt, the cause of GERD is varied between people. However diet, pregnancy and smoking are three of the very major factors, and should be addressed (well apart from pregnancy!) in the early stages of your heartburn occurances.
An excellent publication on curing your heartburn that I highly recommend is “Cure Your Heartburn“. It is well worth the read and has brought upon fantastic results in many, many heartburn and GERD sufferers.
