Causes Of Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux disease is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Acid reflux disease occurs when the stomach liquids or acids go back up to the esophagus from the stomach. This is the cause of the heartburn symptoms that some people feel a few minutes after eating. There are reasons why one gets acid reflux disease and many of these reasons can be amended without any need for medication or drugs but the disease may be chronic.
Composition Of Stomach Liquid
The reason why acid reflux disease has an uncomfortable symptom like heartburn is due mainly to what the stomach liquid is made of. Stomach acids are made up of acid, pepsin and maybe some bile. These are regurgitated up to the esophagus causing some damage to it. The damage is caused mainly by the stomach acids that backup to the esophagus for various reasons.
The reflux of stomach liquid is said to occur to many people. For those with acid reflux disease, their stomach liquid contains more acid than normal people and the esophageal tissues react more to it than normal people. It is believed that acid reflux disease is a chronic condition. Therefore, one can expect to have the heartburn symptoms that accompany this condition.
Factors To Acid Reflux Disease
There are many causes of acid reflux disease and these include the state of the lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal contraction and how the stomach empties itself. It is actually the weakened lower esophageal sphincter that may be the most common cause of acid reflux disease. The function of the lower esophageal sphincter is to prevent the food and stomach liquids from going back up to the esophagus. A weak lower esophageal sphincter can not properly close thus allowing for stomach liquid to regurgitate.
The esophageal contractions can also have some impact on the gastroesophageal reflux disease. This contraction which is known as peristalsis just like the movement of the intestines is a wavelike movement induced by swallowing. Defective peristalsis may not be able to fully push down the saliva, food and other ingested items to the stomach.
The state of how the stomach empties itself can also cause acid reflux disease. A distended stomach may affect the function of how the stomach empties itself. Eating a big meal can sometimes distend the stomach to an extent that some stomach liquids may escape through the lower esophageal sphincter.
Getting to know what causes acid reflux disease is important so as to be able to avoid them or to treat the condition properly.
