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10 Risk Factors for Acid Reflux (GERD)
With more than 3 million cases in the United States per year, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is hardly a rare medical condition. That being said, it can still be the source of much discomfort and it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes it for each person. Here we’ve listed out some common risk factors so you can take the necessary precautions to try to avoid it. If you think you might be suffering from GERD, be sure to talk to your doctor about what to do next!
Obesity – Doctors agree that being obese or overweight puts you at risk for a multitude of health issues, one in particular being GERD. Researchers believe that having excess belly fat may put pressure on the stomach, leading to a hiatal hernia (more on that in the next slide) that causes acid to flow back up into the esophagus. Accordingly, doctors recommend weight loss for those who are significantly overweight and regularly experience bothersome acid reflux symptoms.
Hiatal Hernia – A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges through your diaphragm. A small hiatal hernia doesn’t normally cause too many health problems, but a large one can lead to food and acid being pushed up into your esophagus, causing uncomfortable GERD symptoms. So how would one know if they had a hiatal hernia? Other than heartburn, symptoms include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath. Contact your doctor if you think you might be suffering from a hiatal hernia!
Pregnancy – Pregnancy is already incredibly hard on the body as is so it should come as no surprise that it can commonly lead to health issues like acid reflux. The culprit can be either hormonal changes or the fetus pushing up against the stomach, leading to acid being pushed back up into the esophagus. Of course, weight loss isn’t typically an option during pregnancy but thankfully there are medications that are safe to take that can help ease the symptoms of acid reflux.
Connective Tissue Disorders – Those who suffer from a connective tissue disorder are more likely to experience acid reflux. “Connective tissue disorders” refers to several different conditions that affect the connective tissues. This includes but is not limited to: rheumatoid arthritis (pictured), lupus, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome. The lower esophageal sphincter is partially connective tissue, meaning that it can cause bothersome acid reflux symptoms without being related to some of the more common risk factors on this list.
Excessive Alcohol Use – Excessive alcohol use can lead to a whole host of health problems, one being acid reflux. This is because alcohol stimulates the stomach to produce more acid, keeps acid in the stomach for longer, and impairs the esophagus, making it unable to keep stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus. But there is good news: luckily, most of the time acid reflux symptoms reduce significantly on their own after one cuts back on their alcohol consumption.
Dietary Triggers – Certain foods are more likely than others to lead to acid reflux symptoms because they cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, in turn delaying the digestive process (or in the case of alcohol, as you just read, producing more stomach acid). This includes full-fat dairy products, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and coffee.
You can read even more on this topic and see what other foods are most likely to give you heartburn here! You might just be surprised by some of them.
Smoking – As if you needed another reason not to smoke! Studies have found that smokers are far more likely to develop acid reflux than non-smokers. Firstly, this is because other heartburn-causing activities (like coffee and alcohol consumption) often go hand-in-hand with smoking cigarettes. But cigarettes on their own can cause heartburn as well. More specifically, because nicotine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, causing acid to rise up into the esophagus. Additionally, smoking can cause the mouth to produce less saliva, which can lead to heartburn because saliva helps to offset stomach acid.
Overeating – Overeating can sometimes cause uncomfortable acid reflux symptoms. This is because consuming large quantities of food can lead to the stomach remaining expanded for longer than it should. Overeating over a long period of time means that the stomach loses its ability to contract properly, meaning that acid is free to flow back up into the esophagus. Of course, overeating is normal around the holiday season, but try not to make a year-round habit of it if you’re prone to acid reflux!
Taking Certain Medications – If you follow a generally healthy lifestyle and can’t figure out where your acid reflux is coming from, the culprit may be your medication. Ibuprofen, for example, is part of the NSAID family which can irritate the lining of the esophagus and stomach as a common side effect. Antibiotics, iron supplements, and high blood pressure medications can also cause heartburn. Taking these medications with food and only taking the recommended dosage can help reduce any potential GERD symptoms.
Scleroderma – Scleroderma is a rare disease that causes hardening and tightening of the skin. The disease commonly leads to esophageal dysfunction because patients often have weak lower esophageal sphincters, leaving them predisposed to developing acid reflux. A person with scleroderma may also experience gastroparesis, meaning that the stomach will remain full of noxious materials for a longer period of time after eating and that acid reflux symptoms have the potential to be prolonged.
Click here to read about which foods can help alleviate your acid reflux!