GERD Risk factors That You Need To Take Account Of
Jul 3rd, 2008 by Jeff Martin
Discover in this article what risks may lie in wait for you with this illness :
The common denominator in GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is the loss of strength of the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter. The other common factor concerning GERD is heartburn. Many further distinct factors may be encountered. These include breathing disorders such as asthma, excessive weight, diabetes, expecting a baby, stomach contents being retained for too long, connective tissue disorders and hernias that are hiatal.
Here are some other elements increasing the danger levels:
GERD can come about when the stomach protrudes in such a way as to impinge on the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. In this case a portion of the stomach extends beyond normal boundaries to move into the lower chest, because of a hernia that may be hiatal or diaphragmatic in nature. Gastric contents flow back into the esophageal channel, and this leads to serious heartburn.
Being overweight can also increase pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter causing problems and pushing stomach matter back into the esophageal cavity where it creates heartburn. GERD can therefore also be the result of excessive body weight. To avoid GERD, lose extra and undesirable pounds. These excess pounds pressure the stomach as well as the diaphragm that lies between the stomach and the abdomen.
Risk factors from lifestyle and bad diet habits :
Risk of GERD will also come from abuses of smoking, drinking or eating. A negative impact will also be engendered by a sub-optimal lifestyle and diet habits.
There are also indications that coughing excessively and breathing problems from asthma also put extra strain on the stomach and boost the risk of GERD. Because of this, asthma is also indirectly involved because the medicaments that are prescribed to enlarge the air path also relax the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is what provokes the flow of gastric fluids back to the esophagus.
The risk is further compounded by the fact that pregnancy boosts production of progesterone, a hormone that acts to relax several muscles, among them the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter. Pregnancy also puts extra pressure on the stomach. Pregnant women therefore may be at considerably more risk from GERD.
Getting to the real reason for GERD:
This is where holistic solutions are much better adapted for results, as they focus in the true causes to arrest or even banish GERD. Although classical medicine attempts to treat GERD, any lasting benefit only comes with a holistic program. Conventional drugs unfortunately do nothing but target the symptoms, without resolving any of the basic, causal elements.
GERD is a complex condition and the causes are also multiple, including diet habits, lifestyle, genetically inherited characteristics and even candida infections. Taking a holistic approach is therefore important to treat the body as a whole. This is why the holistic cures work so much better to eliminate GERD.