Triggers of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is the condition that you face when the acids or juices of the stomach flows back into the oesophagus. The LES muscles contract and relax while the food eaten passes from the oesophagus to the stomach separated by the diaphragm. The stomach then releases juices and acids to begin the process of digestion. When the LES muscles remain relaxed even after the food has reached stomach, then the diaphragm fails to close in time making the stomach acids to flow into the diaphragm. Acid reflux can also happen that the acids released in the stomach is more than the usual amount which in turn creates a pressure keeping and the diaphragm open and reaching to the oesophagus.

There are several reasons which can trigger acid reflux:

• The primary trigger for acid reflux is certain kinds of food which are acidic in nature. Acidic food on reaching to the stomach makes the stomach release more juices than usual to breakdown and begin the digestion process. Acidic food does not lose the acidity in our mouth by the enzymes released with saliva which brings down the acidic level potentially in all food that we eat. Due to this excess release of acid, some of it flows back into the oesophagus. Though vegetables are good for health, too much of onion or garlic may trigger acid reflux. Any kind of raw fruit or vegetable with very low pH level work as trigger for acid reflux causing heartburn.
• When you eat fried food, the LES muscles controlling the function of the wall of the stomach get relaxed and remain so for a longer time than usual. This in turn results in the failing of the diaphragm to close in time and the acids passes to the oesophagus. Such conditions can give you heartburn too. All kinds of fried foods are responsible for GERD and acid reflux.
• Chocolate is not very bad for health but can trigger acid reflux if taken in large amounts. One of the primary contents in chocolate is methyl xanthine. This is known to relax the LES muscles preventing them to work in their optimum speed thus causing acid reflux.
• Actions like eating heavy and large meals a day, snacking just before bed time, lying down immediately after having a large meal, taking in a large quantity of aerated and carbonated drinks, taking in caffeine products like coffee and tea and mint, being under medication which controls blood pressure therefore causes unusual relaxation of muscles and acid reflux.

• When a person suffers for hiatal hernia, he is most likely going to suffer from acid reflux. Acid reflux is one of the symptoms of having hiatal hernia. In this condition, the muscles of the stomach walls along with the LES muscles are pushed above the diaphragm. The diaphragm therefore fails to function properly and the acids from the stomach flow back into the oesophagus causing acid reflux.
• During the time of pregnancy, the body ejects several hormones. These hormones interrupt or disrupt the proper functioning of the diaphragm which triggers acids reflux. During the third trimester of the pregnancy, pressure from the foetus causes similar disturbance in the working process of the diaphragm causing acid reflux. When you are facing acid reflux during pregnancy, it is most likely to go away after child birth.
• Due to the smoking the oesophagus, the throat muscles and the LES muscles fail to function properly. The basic reduction that was done during salivation reduces due to reduction in the production of saliva and the acid secretion increases. Further it can damage the mucous membranes. Therefore Smoking is one of the main factors for triggering acid reflux.