What Triggers Acid Reflux?

The burning, acidic feeling in your chest and esophagus after eating has been called "heart burn" and "acid reflux" by many health professionals. While everyone gets occasional heartburn, chronic acid reflux is a serious problem for others, recurring several times in a week. Part of the solution is knowing what causes acid reflux and avoiding these stressors can make a world of difference to chronic acid reflux sufferers.

Expert Insight

• Chronic acid reflux is called Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) by the medical community and is considered a serious condition. GERD is differentiated from occasional heartburn by the frequency and severity of the attacks. Most occasional sufferer of acid reflux can treat the symptoms with over-the-counter digestive aids such as bicarbonate of soda, calcium carbonate, or magnesium hydroxide found in brands such as Tums, Rolaids, or even baking soda. Those who are chronic sufferers only find temporary relief of their symptoms at best; most need stronger measures such as omeprazole which inhibits the proton pumps which disgorge acid into the stomach.

Function

• GERD can be triggered by several food groups, the most significant of which is fat. Fat stimulates the stomach to produce acid in order to more quickly break down this easy energy source. For most people with GERD, this can translate into an episode of acid reflux but since fat also triggers senses of well-being in the brain, many feel that eating "comfort" food will help and instead just triggers more acid. Non-fat foods can also aggravate a GERD sufferer, usually because another trigger is substituted for the removed fat.

Types

• Fat free foods usually replace the fat with other ingredients to simulate the mouth feel of fatty foods; corn starch, for example, is often substituted because it mimics the stiff properties of fat. Unfortunately, refined carbohydrates, such as corn starch, can trigger a GERD attack. Refined carbohydrates stimulate the pancreas and kick the digestive tract into high gear, including the stomach. This can cause an attack, or worsen an attack, of GERD. Oter refined carbohydrates such as white bread, crackers, and other foods that people ingest in order to "soak up" the extra acid actually do nothing at best and make the situation worse in most cases.

Effects

• Spicy foods, such as tabasco sauce, habanero peppers, or buffalo wing sauce can also cause an attack of GERD, but for different reasons. Such spicy foods contain capsaicin, a plant's defense mechanism meant to irritate mammals who eat the plant. Capsaicin produces a burning sensation which can irritate the sensitive esophageal lining and stomach lining of GERD sufferers. Most people without GERD experience the burning sensation only in their mouth or upper esophagus, and rarely or only mildly anywhere else. GERD sufferers feel the same sensations in their mouth, but upon reaching the stomach, the capsaicin irritates membranes damaged by excess acid. The reaction most people have is to consume alcohol (beer), soda, milk, or high-fat salad dressings such as Bleu Cheese dressing, all of which can make the GERD worse by either contributing to acid production or irritating the lining further.

Significance

• Alcohol and soft drinks (soda) can also irritate the lining of the esophagus and bring on a GERD attack. Alcohol has an astringent property which pulls moisture away from cells it comes into contact with. This irritates the lining of the stomach and esophagus and may prompt the production of acid, since alcohol is also turned into a carbohydrate by the body. Soft drinks are fairly acidic themselves and cause similar reactions to the GERD sufferer as an actual acid reflux attack.

Identification

• Other than foods, certain behaviors can cause or aggravate GERD. Eating less than two hours before bed time, or napping after eating, may cause acid to flow into the esophagus. GERD sufferers usually have a relatively weak or damaged esophageal sphincter which would normally prevent acid flowing into the esophagus. Being prone encourages the liquid acid to flow into the esophagus, causing an attack.
  Being overweight, smoking, and eating large meals can also cause GERD attacks and should be addressed under the supervision of a medical professional. GERD can also be caused by excess stress which is manifested as an uneasy feeling in the stomach long before GERD surfaces. Exercise and relaxation techniques can sometimes help alleviate GERD symptoms and prevent later attacks.

Prevention/Solution

• GERD can be caused by a combination of factors, including food, behavior, and external forces. Removing many of these stressors can alleviate the problems and discomforts of GERD and may even reverse some of the damage done. Moderation is the key, according to the National Institute of Health, in combating GERD; moderate to light intake of trigger foods, moderate work outs to relieve stress or to lose weight, and moderate meals all help alleviate and address the problems of GERD.