An Effective Remedy for Acid Reflux Disease Comes Only When You Understand the Cause
Acid reflux is a regular, every day experience for many people. Partially digested, acidic, food moves back up the esophagus. The acid attacks the lining of the esophagus and mouth creating a burning feeling. This refluxed food can cause bad breath, choking, as well as hoarseness.
Most people have suffered from an occasional reflux of food, particularly after eating a large meal. But, a few people suffer these burning sensations far too frequently.
If you seek to get rid of heartburn, you’ll want to recognize the reason for your acid reflux disease.
If you experience regular heartburn, you need to be familiar with some of the causes of acid reflux disease.
One widespread reason for acid reflux is the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle to close. This sphincter muscle circles the esophagus just over the stomach. It’s purpose is to shut the esophagus and prevent the contents of the stomach from returning back into the esophagus. This muscle is meant to relax momentarily only when food in the esophagus is ready to enter the stomach.
Some people suffer from a weakened sphincter muscle. It is not sufficiently strong to completely seal off the stomach from the esophagus. For other people, the muscle relaxes for a couple of minutes when it should remain constricted. These relaxations are momentary and take place from time to time when the stomach is full. Whenever the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is relaxed, the acidic material of the stomach can reflux up to the esophagus.
Acid reflux also can come about because of a hiatal hernia. To understand this you need to be familiar with a little about the makeup of the body. Your diaphragm is a sheet of muscle beneath your lungs that contracts, pulling down to expand your lungs to allow you to breathe in and the diaphragm relaxes to permit you to exhale. Your esophagus extends through the diaphragm to your stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter muscle should be localed right at the diaphragm. But, in a few people, a portion of the stomach has been pushed up above the diaphragm.
The diaphragm and the sphincter muscle normally work together to help seal off the stomach from the esophagus. But, with the hiatal hernia, the top portion of the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter muscle are above the diaphragm. At this point the sphincter muscle must work by itself to seal off the stomach and this seal is much less secure. Usually the top of the stomach is somewhat angled and a flap also helps hold the material in the stomach. But, with the stomach extending straight up through the diaphragm, the flap frequently doesn’t function. This also makes reflux more likely.
Finally, the normal peristalsis waves that force food downward through the esophagus may not fully function. These peristalsis waves also help to drive any reflex back into the stomach. However, when these waves of muscular contractions fail to fully work, reflux can make its way up the esophagus and can reach the mouth.
You can take action to reduce the chance of acid reflux plus reduce the acid content of your stomach to cut back on the burning feeling when reflux does take place. See your medical professional for the solution that is most effective in your case.
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