What Causes Of Acid Reflux? | 10 Causes of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

There are many causes of acid reflux. Understanding what they are can help you seek the appropriate treatment to the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing.

1. Eating habits - Eating large meals, eating soon before bedtime.
2. Lifestyle - Use of alcohol or cigarettes.
3. Diet- Fatty and fried foods, chocolate, garlic and onions, drinks with caffeine, acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, spicy foods, mint flavorings, delayed stomach emptying.
4. During Pregnancy - Increase pressures within the abdomen (body trunk), pushing the stomach contents back into the esophagus. Some patients have stomachs that empty their contents into the intestines very slowly.
5. Stress - stress is a major contributor to acid reflux disease.
6. Malfunction of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) Muscles
7. Impaired Stomach Function - The stomach muscles do not contract normally, which causes delays in stomach emptying, increasing the risk for acid back up.
8. Adult-ringed oesophagus- This condition is characterized by an esophagus with multiple rings and persistent trouble with swallowing (including getting food stuck in the esophagus). It occurs mostly in men.
9. Hiatal Hernia - This is where a small section of the stomach becomes trapped in a natural hole in the diaphragm. This process in itself is not one of the causes however it affects the lower oesophageal sphincter and results in it not being able to close completely. As mentioned above, this then leads to stomach acid making its way up the oesophagus and causing the damage associated with the condition.
10. Genetic Factors
    

• Asthma - At least half of asthmatic patients also have GERD. Some experts speculate that the coughing and sneezing accompanying asthmatic attacks cause changes in pressure in the chest that can trigger reflux.
• Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori - Helicobacter Pylori, also called H. pylori, is a bacterium found in the mucous membranes and is now known to be a major cause of peptic ulcers.
• Over-reactive Immune Response - The immune system reacts with an exaggerated (or hyper-reactive) response, triggering the release of certain factors that end up causing inflammation and possibly injury.
• Medication or drug that increase the risk of Acid Reflux - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), and naproxen (Aleve) common causes of peptic ulcers, may also cause acid reflux and increase severity in people who already have GERD.