What causes GERD?

Etiology is the term used for causes of a disease process. We know that GERD results from gastric reflux into the esophagus, but there are several ways this can occur.

The esophageal sphincter, a ring like muscle, which normally prevents back-flow of content from the stomach may be defective. When this is unable to adequately seal the opening, the esophagus is at risk for being exposed to acid.

Hiatal hernias can also cause GERD. This is when a portion of the stomach slips up through the diaphragm (a large muscle separating the chest and abdominal cavities). The stomach is then overwhelming the esophagus and exposes the area to gastric content.

 Pregnancy can cause GERD as well. If we simply consider the changes in anatomy during pregnancy it is easy to understand why this would occur. As the fetus grows and the woman's belly enlarges, the abdomen and chest are being squished and may place pressure on the stomach, causing acid reflux.

Other causes may include a variety of medications, obesity, alcohol, and smoking.

GERD is the progressed form of frequent heart burn. So if a person has GERD it's a chronic problem that can lead to further, more serious problems. If not controlled well, GERD can cause ulcers in the esophagus, if these are bad enough they may increase the risk of esophageal cancers. With the presence of ulcers and tissue trauma comes the risk of infection as well.








References:

1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. (2015, April 9). Retrieved April 16, 2015, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000265.htm