What is Acid Reflux?

The term Acid Reflux is the short form of expression of Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease ( GERD). This disease is characterized by heartburn. The burning sensation starts from the stomach and spreads to chest and throat. These heartburn may be related to the following activities:

• Consumption of heavy meals,
• Bending over ,
• Lifting heavy weight,
• Lying on the bed on one’s back.

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Acid Reflux Causes

Acid Reflux or its associated heartburn may be  temporary or of mild nature due to a afternoon siesta after a heavy diet of fatty and acidic food, unusual activities of bending over or lifting weights. However, persistent Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be caused due to abnormal biologic or structural factors as enumerated below:

• Lower esophageal sphincter muscles malfunction: These LES muscles are closing and opening the lower end of esophagus  and maintains a pressure against the stomach contents. If it loses its tone or strength , LES cannot close up properly after food’s entry into the stomach , resulting in acid from stomach enters esophagus
• Stomach muscles impaired: Studies revealed that most of the Acid Reflux patients exhibit abnormal muscle function in the stomach. These abnormalities are mainly the muscles  inability to act spontaneously . The muscles cannot contract properly resulting in delay to empty the stomach and increasing the risk of acidity.

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