Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disorder of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The precise reason for this disorder is not known.
Although it is suspected that it may be caused by a combination of several things.
One of the theories is the LES has an abnormality that causes it not to function properly.
This could include relaxing when it is not supposed to relax.
Or it could be due to weak contractions causing it to allow the stomach contents back into the esophagus.
When we eat and swallow our food, the contractions of the esophagus are what moves the food out of the esophagus and on into the stomach.
When there is an interruption in this routine, the esophagus does not function properly and this can cause GERD.
It is also thought that many people take longer to digest their food thus it sits in the stomach longer.
This could also cause reflux because the food is in the stomach for so long.
It is also known that eating certain food cause this problem more so than others.
There are several, in fact that should be avoided if you suspect GERD is a problem from which you are suffering.
A few of these are: * Chocolate * Caffeine * Spicy Foods * Foods High in Fat Content * Tomatoes * Alcohol There are many more that have been reported by those who suffer from GERD.
Sometimes just eating a big meal will cause this problem.
By putting pressure on the abdomen this in turn will cause the LES to stay relaxed which will send stomach contents back into the esophagus.
It is thought that certain drugs cause the LES to function improperly and this will cause this condition as well.
There is one theory that GERD is responsible for asthma while still another theory says it is just the opposite.
One thing that is known is there are more than half of the people who have asthma that also have GERD.
Obesity is another common denominator.
There are so many things that seem to be associated with this problem; it is hard to know for sure if they are the cause or if GERD is the cause of the other problems.
It is known however, that many drugs will cause the LES to relax which as we have learned is one of the reasons people suffer from this problem.
Here are a few of the drugs that are associated with this problem: * Antibiotics * Iron Pills * Sedatives * Dopamine * Calcium Channel Blockers * Potassium Although some people suffer from heartburn on occasion due to overeating or eating food high in acid content, there are differences from occasional heartburn and GERD.
The heartburn is an occasional problem that is affected by outside circumstances.
GERD is a recurring problem that is not just a result of an occasional meal or overeating.
It returns time after time until the cause or combination of causes is discovered.
The risk of developing stomach problems such as ulcers from the constant irritation is another thing that has to be considered when understanding what is GERD.
This is a serious problem as it not only makes the sufferer very uncomfortable but if left untreated it can cause more problems.