What Is Acid Reflux And What Causes It! Acid reflux is one of the top health-related internet search queries, a very common symptom of burning pain felt internally around the lower chest area, caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the food pipe. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, or GORD for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) is acid reflux more than twice a week. What is acid reflux? Acid reflux is when some of the acid content of the stomach flows up into the esophagus - into the gullet, which moves food down from the mouth. The stomach contains a strong acid, hydrochloric acid, to help with the efficient digestion of food and to protect against, for example, bacteria.1 The lining of the stomach is specially adapted to produce this acid, and also to protect the digestive organ against its own corrosive secretion - but the higher gut is not protected from this acid. A ring of muscle - the gastroesophageal sphincter - normally protects the esophagus from the contents of the stomach by acting as a valve by closing the entrance to the stomach.2 When this fails, the symptoms of acid reflex are felt, such as heartburn. This is also known as pyrosis or acid indigestion. Exact figures vary but acid reflux is very common, and disease caused by it is the most common complaint of the gut seen by US hospital departments.3 The American College of Gastroenterology says that over 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and at least 15 million as often as daily.4 Gastroesophageal reflux disease has the highest burden in western countries, where prevalence across the populations is around 20 to 30 percent, according to academic estimates.5 Americans are especially prone to the disease,6 which has lifestyle risk factors, explored below.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 20:19:13 +0000
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