Causes
GERD occurs when a valve located at the bottom of the esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) that normally keeps acid in the stomach isn't functioning properly. Acid that moves from the stomach into the esophagus damages its lining and can cause burning and pain.
Risk factors are characteristics that may increase your chance for developing a condition. Risk factors for GERD include:
- age (over 50 years old)
- being overweight or obese
- eating and drinking certain types of foods and drinks (see below)
- having excess abdominal fat
- pregnancy
- smoking
- taking certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs, some antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids)
The following foods can cause symptoms of GERD, but may not necessarily cause GERD itself:
- alcoholic drinks
- chocolate
- coffee, tea, cola
- foods with high acid content (e.g., tomatoes, orange juice)
- fried or fatty foods
- garlic
- onions
- peppermint
- spicy foods
Some researchers believe that GERD is associated with a condition called hiatal hernia in which a portion of the stomach lining pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. People with severe GERD almost always have a hiatal hernia.