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Heartburn Causes / Causes of Acid Reflux

There are several causes of heartburn / acid reflux. Finding out what these are, and how they cause heartburn, can help you prevent it.
How Does Heartburn Happen?
To fully understand heartburn, it’s important to understand the mechanisms of a healthy digestive system.
Achalasia
Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus that affects the esophagus' ability to move food toward the stomach. Also, the valve from the esophagus to the stomach (lower esophageal sphincter or LES) does not relax enough during swallowing to allow food to enter the stomach.
Smoking and Your Digestive System
Smoking has been shown to have harmful effects on all parts of the digestive system, contributing to such common disorders as heartburn and peptic ulcers. It also increases the risk of Crohn's disease and possibly gallstones. Smoking seems to affect the liver, too, by changing the way it handles drugs and alcohol. In fact, there seems to be enough evidence to stop smoking solely on the basis of digestive distress.
Causes of Acid Reflux Disease: Alcohol Is Out, Salt Is In
A new study suggests that drinking alcohol, coffee and tea may not cause acid reflux disease as once thought. That is surprising enough, but even more unexpected was the findings that table salt may increase a person's risk of developing acid reflux by 70%.
Gastric Disorders That Cause Heartburn / Acid Reflux
There are several digestive disorders, such as GERD, ulcers and hiatal hernias, that can cause heartburn symptoms. Knowing the facts will help in the treatment and prevention of heartburn.
10 Most Frequent Causes of Heartburn / Acid Reflux
There are several causes of heartburn / acid reflux. There are those that are the most frequent causes of heartburn. Finding out what these are can help you make changes in your lifestyle and habit so you can prevent the acid reflux from happening.
Indigestion Vs Heartburn
Some people who suffer from heartburn report to others that they are suffering from a case of indigestion. Though they both have similar triggers, and treatment may be the same in many instances, indigestion isn't the same thing as heartburn. For example, indigestion is the condition, and heartburn occasionally is a symptom.
Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases
As researchers learn more about the many diseases that affect the digestive system, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives' tales, and rumors about causes and treatments of digestive diseases with accurate information. But misunderstandings still exist, and while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous if it keeps a person from correctly preventing or treating an illness.
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