Acid Reflux Causes & Risk Factors

Causes & Risk Factors

What Are the Causes?

Acid indigestion is a condition that produces similar symptoms to acid reflux; however, the underlying cause is different. Acid indigestion occurs intermittently or periodically and results primarily from diet. Both acid indigestion and acid reflux produce symptoms of heartburn, which can last for minutes or for hours. Foods that can trigger indigestion include fatty foods, creamy foods, citrus, oily foods, spicy foods, and fried foods.

Chronic acid indigestion is a sign of acid reflux disease. As with indigestion, acid reflux symptoms can be triggered by certain foods that are high in fat, creamy, oily, or spicy. A person who suffers from chronic indigestion or acid reflux may be able to identify certain foods as more problematic than others. In general, a person should avoid these foods to prevent symptoms. While certain foods can trigger symptoms of heartburn, it is important to understand that acid reflux is ultimately the result of a malfunctioning esophageal sphincter. The esophageal sphincter serves as a connection between the esophagus and the stomach. When this sphincter fails to close properly, stomach acid flows from the stomach to the esophagus. This impairment can be temporary or permanent. It is frequently caused by a genetic predisposition.

Who's at Risk?

Groups at high risk include those with a family history of acid reflux or gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD). Other causes include hiatal hernias, pregnancy, obesity, and scleroderma. Certain medications can also cause acid reflux. Beta blockers, bronchodilators, sedatives, antidepressants, and motion sickness medicines can cause intermittent or persistent acid reflux. Smokers are at high risk for developing complications.

Chronic acid reflux results in GERD, which puts people at risk for long-term damage to the esophagus and throat. When there is injury to the esophagus, people might start to wheeze, cough, lose their voice, or become hoarse. Constant regurgitation of stomach acid can also cause problems to the teeth and sinuses.

Supine acid reflux causes twice the damage of upright acid reflux. With supine acid reflux, stomach acids travel to and from the stomach and esophagus twice. With upright acid reflux, stomach acid is less likely to flow back down or up the first place because of gravity.

It is impossible to quantify how much damage someone with acid reflux will endure. It is also impossible to create a statistical measure for the likelihood or probability that a person will develop acid reflux in the first place. Diet, environmental factors, heredity, lifestyle, and overall health are all components that play a part in causing the disease.