Dietary and Other Causes of Acid Reflux

Although many people may experience the symptoms of acid reflux at least once in their lives, there are some people in which this is a problem every day, causing damage to the esophagus and other organs.

One of the causes of acid reflux could be ingesting a large amount of foods that have a high acidic content or are high in fats. In these cases, individuals can solve the problem of acid reflux through a change in their diets.

More Serious Causes

There are more serious causes of acid reflux besides diet. There can be a problem with the muscles in the lower esophagus which cause the acid reflux. In this case, the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus does not close properly any longer which allows the acid from the stomach to travel back up the esophagus causing acid reflux.

In addition, there can also be a problem with the stomach itself which causes acid reflux in some patients. In this case, the patients have a problem with the nerves of muscles in the stomach that impair the stomach's ability to empty properly, which can cause a back-up of acid from a 'too full' stomach.

Another problem that may cause acid reflux is from a hernia in the hiatus, which is a hole in the diaphragm which allows the esophagus to pass through it into the stomach. If there is a hernia there, which is common in people who are over sixty, it can cause the muscle of the esophagus to malfunction which allows the stomach acids back into the esophagus.

Acid reflux may also be caused by genetics, inherited from parent to child, in which cases a weak esophagus is passed from one generation to the next. Asthma can also aggravate acid reflux and may cause it, although a direct cause is not fully proven. In addition, Chron's disease can also contribute to a cause of acid reflux, since the disease effects the colon, inflaming it and other parts of the digestive tract. This can cause inflammation to the esophagus as well, which can lead to acid reflux.

There are other illnesses that can cause acid reflux such as diabetes and ulcers. In addition, cancers of the throat and other lymphomas can also cause acid reflux in many patients. Since there are so many different causes of acid reflux, one treatment does not work for all patients and each case must be examined on an individual basis.