Causes Of Acid Reflux

Several Causes Of Acid Reflux or heartburn are often mentioned. Finding out what these causes are will help you make crucial changes in your habits and lifestyle so that you can prevent gastroesophageal reflux from happening to you. Here are some things that may be the most frequent causes of heartburn.

 

Alcoholic beverages relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Alcohol also increases the production of stomach acid.

 

Coffee, tea, and other drinks that contain caffeine are other beverages that are considered causes of acid reflux. Caffeine is used as a stimulant, but it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which would allow stomach contents to go up into the esophagus.

 

Chocolate is among the causes of acid reflux because it contains concentrations of theobromine, an alkaloid compound that is naturally occurring in many plants such as cacao, coffee, and tea. This compound also relaxes the LES, letting gastric acid flow up into the esophagus.

 

Tomatoes and tomato-based products are, unfortunately, foods relax the lower esophageal sphincter. Fried and fatty foods are also causes of acid reflux because these foods have a tendency of slowing down digestion, thus keeping the food in your stomach for a longer time. Such a set of circumstances can result in greater pressure within the stomach, which in turn puts greater pressure on your weakened LES, allowing reflux of your stomach’s contents.

 

Citrus fruits and juices also have a reputation as causes of acid reflux. These foods have the common effect of relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter.

 

Large meals are not at all a good idea for people with acid reflux. A full stomach can put extra pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which is sure to increase the chances that some of the food will reflux into the esophagus.

 

Tobacco is a vice that acid reflux sufferers should abstain from. The chemicals in cigarette smoke weaken the LES as they pass from the lungs into the blood.

 

Eating within two to three hours prior to bedtime is not recommended if you happen to have acid reflux. Lying down while one’s stomach is full can cause the stomach contents to press harder against the LES, increasing the chances they will be refluxed.

 

Wearing tight-fitting clothing is another one of the causes of acid reflux that you should be aware of. Clothing that fits tightly around the abdomen will squeeze the stomach, forcing food up against the LES, and cause food to reflux into the esophagus. Clothing that can give you acid reflux problems include slenderizing undergarments and tightly cinched belts.