Heartburn (GERD) Causes & Risks

Causes

When you eat, food travels down the esophagus to the stomach. The muscle between the esophagus and stomach lets food enter the stomach. When this muscle weakens, stomach acid flows into the esophagus. This causes a burning sensation, called heartburn.

Other causes of GERD include:

• Conditions that:
  • Interfere with food passing through the esophagus
  • Cause excess acid production
• Possible genetic factor

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing GERD. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

• Being obese
• Being pregnant
• Having a hiatal hernia —a weakening in the diaphragm (large muscle separating the thorax and the abdomen) causing the stomach to partially slip into the chest cavity
• Exercising immediately after eating (especially jogging or running)
• Smoking
• Using alcohol
• Eating chocolate (can worsen symptoms)
• Drinking caffeinated beverages
• Eating a high-fat diet
• Taking certain medications, including:
  • Anticholinergics
  • Calcium channel blocking agents
  • Theophylline
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Quinidine
  • Tetracycline
  • Potassium and iron supplements
  • Anti- osteoporosis agent alendronate
  • Hormone replacement therapy
• Having prior surgery for heartburn, including gastric reflux surgery and vagotomy
• Having asthma and using asthma medications
• Having and treating a peptic ulcer
• Having certain diseases, including diabetes , cancer , scoliosis , cystic fibrosis , and nervous system diseases
• Having defects in the respiratory system or gastrointestinal system
• Having food allergies