When you experience a burning
sensation in your chest or just a uncomfortable sensation of acid from your
stomach creeping up your mouth, then you may be experiencing acid reflux.
This usually affects at least 40% of the American population. When this
incident happens during the night, then you will wake up gasping for air for
the acid has already reached your airway. These are common symptoms that affect
a lot of people on a daily basis. Many people are not aware why they experience
these symptoms. Here are some possible causes for your discomfort and maybe you
could prevent further incidents of reflux.
List down the food
that you eat. Reflux of acid is usually caused by a variety of foods. it could
range from citrus fruits, sour cream, juices, high fat desserts, alcoholic and
caffeinated drinks. Two of the most infamous causes are peppermint and
chocolate. The esophageal sphincter is relaxed when these foods are ingested so
there is no closure of the passageway from the espohagus to the stomach leading
to the reflux of food up in the digestive tract. When the esophageal sphincter,
relaxes the result is a reflux.
Determine from the
person that sleep beside you or have seen you sleep if you snore during the
night. Snoring could be an indication that you are suffering from sleep apnea.
This is one major cause of reflux. Snoring restricts the passage of air causing
you to increase effort at breathing. This will result in the lungs expanding
causing the esophagus to be filled more with acid. This concentrates the acid.
While sleeping, the body also stops producing saliva that helps in keeping the
action of acid to the mucous membranes at bay. With a decrease in saliva
production and increase in acid concentration, the effect could be damaging.
Too much abdominal
pressure is also one of the major causes of reflux. This could be achieved in
many ways. Eating a large meal before going to bed is one way. Wearing tight
clothes is also another way to increase abdominal pressure. Fluids usually go
from an area of high pressure to low pressure. In this case, the stomach has
higher pressure leading the acid to go to the chest with lower pressure. This
can be force up reaching the level of the esophagus.
Another cause of acid
reflux is the presence of a hiatal hernia. This is where a portion of the
stomach is present in the chest cavity. The contents of the stomach may spill
to the chest area. Further test will be needed to diagnose this condition.
Seeing your physician and opening to him about your problem will be of great
help. He can help trace your medical history if indeed you possess this
condition.
