Causes of Reflux
GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle connecting the esophagus and stomach.
More: Causes of Reflux
Heartburn Causes and Symptoms
Learn about the foods and lifestyles that cause heartburn and how you can make
choices to lower
the risk of heartburn. You can also learn about some of the scientific reasons for heartburn and
other useful information.
Lifestyle Causes
How you eat can also be as important as what you eat. Skipping breakfast or lunch and then consuming a huge meal at day's end can increase gastric pressure and the possibility of reflux.
More: Lifestyle Causes
Heartburn or Heart Attack?
Symptoms associated with the digestive condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or reflux, can mimic the pain of heart attack or angina -- which is chest pain caused by diminished blood flow through the coronary arteries -- especially when the sensation is constricting rather than burning in nature.
Foods that Cause Heartburn
Diet can contribute to LES dysfunction. Coffee, tea, cocoa, and cola drinks are all powerful stimulants of gastric acids. Mints and chocolate, often served to cap off a meal to aid in digestion, can actually make things worse.