Causes and Implications of the Gastric Reflux Disease

Popularly named hearth burn (the burning sensation in the throat), the gastric reflux happen when the stomach acid goes back into the esophagus causing discomfort such as a burning sensation. Some persons might also experience difficulty to swallow and feel a taste of bitter in their mouth. Heart burn occurs if the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is happening in the wrong time, in a different time than the swallowing moment of the food and keeps being open for a longer period than the normal one. Naturally, the sphincter should open itself only for a few seconds during the swallowing process.

The most fervent factors that provoke gastric reflux are:

- Hormonal changes during pregnancy. Sphincter cannot self close completely during pregnancy due to hormonal changes occurring and due to the increased abdominal pressure. Hormones also cause a slow digestive transit during pregnancy so gastric reflux become a common problem in the life of a pregnant women.

- Weakness of the esophageal sphincter. If esophageal sphincter is poorly represented, it will not produce a perfect closure of the esophagus and reflux will occur. This is a rare cause of gastro esophageal reflux with moderate manifestations, but in people with severe reflux it occurs in 25 percent.

- Gastric reflux is common in people with hiatal hernia (hiatus hernia). Symptoms in these individuals range from moderate to severe.

- Digestion delay. If the foods sit for a long time in the stomach, before been forwarded to the intestine (delayed gastric emptying), the risk of the stomach reflux will be higher.

- Excessive eating. A big meal will fill the stomach and will increases the possibility of gastro esophageal reflux that occurs because the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Some foods, though not produce sphincter relaxation, produce an esophageal burn and the esophagus becomes immediately irritated. These foods are spices, citrus products and tomato products. Alcohol, tobacco and certain medications can also cause sphincter relaxation.

Factors that increase the risk of developing gastro esophageal reflux disease are: overweight; pregnancy; smoking; alcohol; consumption of certain foods like chocolate, coffee, soda that will cause the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter; fatty foods because they remain in the stomach of for a long period of time producing acidity; certain drugs, like medication for asthma or emphysema that also causes sphincter relaxation; old age; scleroderma (a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys healthy tissues).

Gastric reflux is a common issue today. Almost none of us can say that never felt this problem in our life. An untreated gastric reflux can lead to other serious problems such as ulcers, inflammation, low blood count or anemia.