Understanding Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs when the contents located in the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The medical name for this is gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Numerous times acid reflux disease can be quite severe with a lot of symptoms that you may become frightened with. Other times it can be quite severe, although without noticeable symptoms.

If you grasp the role of the stomach and esophagus, it is easier to understand how acid reflux disease can occur.

The stomach is a jellybean or J shaped unit that lies just beneath the diaphragm that holds the upper organs in place behind the rib cage. It is a flexible muscular organ.

The stomach not only holds and stores the nourishment that we eat, but also grinds it up into pin head size pieces, then empties by evacuating the food on down and out through the lower valve called the pylorus.

It is the hydrochloric acid that is the biggest role player in acid reflux disease. The main culprit is not the stomach itself, but relaxation of the upper valve of the stomach. This unique valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter. If this valve is relaxed or forced open then the stomach acid is pushed or forced back up into the esophagus causing injury to the very tender esophagus lining.

When you understand that food traveling from the mouth to the stomach only takes a few seconds, you then realize that there is no requirement for stomach acid to be present in your esophagus. It only a muscular passage that shuttles food and drink downward.

You may not realize that every day you eat certain kinds of foods that are relaxing to this upper valve. Even your every day stress can impact it.

Over eating or drinking can also effect the reverse opening of this valve. If you have too much food in your stomach at once, the stomach processing and churning the food can force that valve open. Small meals are to your best choice in getting around this.

There are things that you can do to turn Acid Reflux Disease around. The way that you eat, what you eat, when you eat. Educating your self about what causes acid reflux and what foods are involved can help quite a bit.

Article by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac. Learn more about acid reflux and acid reflux disease. Discover how to banish your acid reflux with natural methods.