Heartburn and acid reflux should be taken seriously instead of ignoring or just addressing the problem as it occurs. It should not be left untreated as it can lead to a more serious complications like esophageal cancer. GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorder that is seen in a general medical practice. In fact, about half of the people with chest pain who see a doctor turns out to have heartburn and acid reflux.

There are several activities in the digestive system that leads to the occurrence of acid reflux. The first one is the incomplete closing at the junction between the esophagus and stomach of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). These happens because of several factors such as age, pregnancy and hormones. Most commonly, the weakening of the LES is brought about by certain foods such as peppermint, fatty and spicy foods, acidic and citrus foods and beverages like alcohols, coffee and soda.

Hiatal hernia is a condition wherein part of the stomach protrudes into the lower chest and diaphragm making it difficult for the LES to close properly. This blockage also prevent food from entering the stomach or cause it back up into the esophagus. Those with condition of Hiatal hernia are very prone to acid reflux.

Incomplete clearing of the esophagus is another situation that can cause GERD. People with serious acid reflux has esophagus that does not fully clear the regurgitated stomach acid. That is why, it is important to secrete enough saliva as it help in clearing off the acid in the esophagus. That is why, chewing gum is another tip recommended to help in reducing acid reflux as it can lead to the production of more saliva.

Slow movement of the food in the esophagus brought about by aging, medications and other diseases can also lead to acid reflux. It can also be due to other disorders that affect the muscles and interfere with the muscle contractions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. People with conditions like these are more likely to experience acid reflux too.

Delayed or slowed emptying of the stomach can be another culprit for reflux. This can be observed in people with diabetes or patients with medications that can delay gastric emptying (such as calcium channel blockers and anticholinergics).