What Causes GERD?

Typically, there isn’t just one cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease. As the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders states: “It occurs when the esophageal defenses are overwhelmed by gastric contents that reflux into the esophagus.” This can be because of many reasons. The main problem is that the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t work like it should. In a normal person, the lower esophageal sphincter contracts to prevent backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus. In a person with GERD, the sphincter fails to contract, or fails to contract completely, and stomach contents flow backwards into the esophagus, causing erosion of the lining. 
There are many risk factors that can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease or make it worse. Genetics is a major risk factor. According to the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, genetics is probably the leading cause of GERD. The more people in your family who suffer from GERD, the higher your chances are for getting it. 
Another common cause of GERD is a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is when part of your stomach pushes up through the diaphragm muscle. Normally, there is a small opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm through which the esophagus travels through to connect to the stomach. With a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes through this opening creating a hiatal hernia. 
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is another cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a condition caused by tumors. It causes the stomach to produce too much of the hormone gastrin. This means the stomach is producing more acid than normal. Where is that extra acid going to go? It’s going to fill up your stomach, and then when the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food into your stomach, that acid is going to backflow into the esophagus and weaken the sphincter.
Other risk factors for GERD include, but are not limited to: obesity, smoking, asthma, diabetes, delayed stomach emptying, connective tissue disorders (ex: scleroderma), hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), pregnancy, and certain medications. There are risk factors to making GERD worse. Overeating, tight clothing, and bad posture can worsen GERD symptoms. These risk factors put extra pressure on the stomach making it easier for stomach contents to push back into the esophagus. 

With all of these risk factors, it is surprising to me that more of us don’t have gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is impressive that so many things can lead to the damage of one sphincter and create a lifetime of heartburn and ulcers. It may seem like a lot to watch for in your lifestyle, but the result of not taking care of your stomach and esophagus can have serious lifelong repercussions.

Gastrodigestivesystem.com,. (2015).GERD Causes | Gastrodigestivesystem. Retrieved 18 October 2015, from http://gastrodigestivesystem.com/esophagus/gerd-causes

REFERENCES:

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. (2015). Introduction to GERD - aboutGERD.org. Retrieved 18 October 2015, from http://www.aboutgerd.org/site/what-is-gerd/intro/

MedlinePlus. (2015).Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 18 October 2015, from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000325.htm

Surgery.usc.edu,. (2015).Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - Epidemiology and Pathophysiology. Retrieved 18 October 2015, from http://www.surgery.usc.edu/uppergi-general/gastroesophagealrefluxdisease-epidemiologypathophysiology.html