What Causes GERD?
GERD and Your Digestive System
To understand what causes GERD, you must first understand your digestive system.
The upper digestive, or upper gastrointestinal system, is made up of:
- The mouth
- The space behind the mouth, called the pharynx
- The esophagus, a tube that runs from the pharynx to the stomach
- The stomach
- The duodenum, the first part of the small intestine
The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach. The place where the esophagus
and stomach meet is surrounded by a ring of muscle. This ring is called the
lower esophageal sphincter , or LES. Normally, when you’re not eating,
the LES muscle is squeezing shut so that the stomach is closed off from the
esophagus. When you eat, the muscle relaxes and the LES opens, allowing food to
enter the stomach. Then the muscle squeezes the LES shut again, keeping
whatever is in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus.
The LES plays an important role in digestion. The stomach makes acid to aid in
the digestion of food. While the stomach has a special lining to protect it
from acid damage, the esophagus does not have a protective lining and is more
easily injured by stomach acid.
With GERD, the LES may open more often than it should or it may open at the
wrong times, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. This can be
extremely painful. If this continues for a long time, a portion of the
esophagus can become “raw.” This is called erosive esophagitis and it can lead
to serious medical problems including scarring, bleeding and ulcers. Chronic
GERD could lead to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. In Barrett’s
esophagus, the lining of the esophagus is abnormal. Patients with Barrett’s
esophagus have an increased risk of one type of esophageal cancer which can
lead to an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus.
To see an animation of GERD or acid reflux, click here.
What triggers acid reflux?
Your lifestyle doesn’t cause GERD, but it may make your symptoms worse. Triggers
for acid reflux include:
- Certain foods or drinks
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Eating too much
- Bending over after eating
- Lying down less than 3 hours after meals
Lifestyle changes may help to relieve the symptoms of GERD. Most medical
treatments for GERD are aimed at decreasing the acidity of the stomach’s
contents. To learn more about the treatment of GERD,
click here.