acid reflux is an extreme swelling of the esophagus caused by a regurgitation ( or attempted regurgitation ) of the stomach’s contents. It’s a leading indication of heart burn that effects roughly one out of each ten adults every day. The feeling of burning around the heart is commonly known as heartburn and is one of many acid reflux symptoms. The simplest way to eliminate the speedy symptoms of acid reflux is to take an acid reflux tablet.

Though the root causes are usually misleading, perhaps the most common acid reflux cause is a poor diet. Acid reflux happens during digestion, when the belly churns up acid or refluxes it into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato sauces and / or greasy, fried foods, the stomach has to process a surplus of acid. Too much acid can push back through a valve between the belly and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter ( LES ). Acid reflux perpetrators include but are not restricted to tomato based sauces, fried and greasy foods, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated beverages.

Along the same lines as diet, overeating also causes reflux. When you over-indulge, the gut can not keep up with the demand to process all the acids. So food gets backed up, and digestive acids infiltrate the esophageal valve to cause that unpleasant burning feeling focused in the chest.

Also diet-related, another acid reflux cause is being overweight. There’s a clear relationship between being obese and a notable increase in the incidence of acid reflux. Many are convinced this is as the extra weight puts more stress on the stomach and esophagus. This pressure has been known to open the lower esophageal sphincter ( esophagus valve ), when the valve should be closed. This permits acid to escape into the esophagus.

Other things that make a predisposition for acid reflux include smoking, use of alcohol, food allergies, certain medications, and lying down after meals. As you can tell, the majority of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral modifications. In fact, in numerous cases of recurrent acid reflux, lifestyle changes are all that’s required in stopping heartburn from becoming a protracted disease. Remember to consult a surgeon before embarking on any treatment technique.