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.

• Esophagus abnormalities: Studies indicate that most of the GERD patients may be having abnormalities in the esophagus like Motility abnormalities (peristalsis) or Adult –Ringed Esophagus which is characterized by persistent trouble with swallowing that affects mostly men.

• Hiatal Hernia: In effect hiatus is a small hole in the diaphragm through which passes the esophagus into the stomach. Although the hole aperture fits snugly in normal circumstances, it gets larger with age or may be due to other reasons In all such happenings, the stomach muscles may protrude through the aperture causing the state of Hiatal Hernia. It is very common occurrence with elderly people but found to be rarely serious. Earlier, it was the common belief that hiatal hernia was the route cause for persistent heartburn. Hiatal hernia may cause impairment of the LES muscle functions but it is not confirmed that hiatal hernia is causing GERD although its very presence may be harmful for GERD patients.