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When we eat
food as a
part of
normal
digestion
the food
chewed is
passed on
via the
food pipe or
oesophagus
to the
stomach for
further
digestion
aided by the
acidic
juices
present in
the
stomach. These
juices are
not supposed
to be in the
oesophagus
but in the
stomach
which is
meant to
handle these
juices for
digestion of
food.
Now when
these acidic
juices flows
back to the
oesophagus
it causes a
burning
sensation in
the centre
of the chest
also called
heartburn
leading to
the
phenomenon
causing acid
reflux.
To
explain reasons
for
development
of acid
reflux further,
acid reflux
or
gastroesophagael
reflux
disease[GERD]
occurs when
the gastric
juices flows
reversely
into the
oesophagus
from the
stomach
.This
happens due
to the
inabilty of
lower
oesophagal
sphinctor
valve to
close
properly
once the
partially
digested
food from
mouth goes
to the
stomach via
the
oesophagus
for further
digestion.
The lower
oesophagal
sphincter
[LES] is a
valve made
up of a band
of muscles
.This valve
separates
the
oesophagus
from the
stomach and
closes
itself once
the food
reaches the
stomach so
as to
prevent the
reverse flow
ogf gastric
juices from
the stomach
to the
oesophagus
and prevents
causing acid
reflux
attack. If
this
phonomenon
occurs
occassionally
as in
everyone
causing
heartburn
it's O.K.
However, it
becomes a
cause of
concern if
it starts
occurring
more than
occassionally
resulting in
the Gastric
oesophagael
reflux
disease or
causing acid
reflux
attack or
GERD. That
is when the
lower
oesophagael
sphinctor
relaxes more
frequently
and
irregularly
it causes
GERD in the
form of
chronic
heartburn.
Future
implications
of
gastricoesophaguael
disease;
Cause or
Reasons for
Acid reflux
attack can
be varied
and is a
potentially
dangerous
health
condition if
not checked
on time.
This is
because over
a period of
time the
gastric
juices
flowing into
the
oesophagus
starts
causing wear
n tear or
erosion of
the
oesophageal
lining and
the
condition is
termed as
Erosive
Oesophagitis
i.e. erosion
of the oesophageal
lining due
to the acid
reflux
attack or
gastroesophagael
reflux
disease.
However, it
can be
diagnosed by
only a
medical
practitionaer
with the
help of
upper
endoscopy
performed on
the patient.
That means
only a
doctor can
tell you if
you have
acid reflux
disease and
what caused
it.
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