What causes GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. For most people, GERD is due to a relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that opens to allow food and liquids to pass into the stomach, and closes to prevent food and stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus. LES relaxation occurs more frequently in people diagnosed with GERD, although doctors do not know why.

Risk factors
GERD or heartburn can occur in men, women, and children of all ages, including infants. A risk factor is a behavior or condition that can increase likelihood of developing a disease. It is possible that a person can develop GERD with or without any of the risk factors listed below present. However, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the risk of developing GERD. Risk factors for GERD include:

• alcohol (especially excess) use
• bending over or straining, especially soon after meals
• drinking carbonated beverages, caffeinated beverages, and decaffeinated coffee
• eating chocolate
• eating spicy foods or acidic foods like citrus or tomatoes
• eating quickly, which can result in swallowing air (aerophagia)
• exercising immediately after eating (especially jogging or strenuous activity)
• heartburn or gastric reflux surgery or vagotomy
• lying down soon after meals
• obesity
• smoking

Other medical conditions may also increase the risk of developing GERD. These include:

• asthma or other respiratory problems
• cancer
• congenital problems (cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and others)
• certain nervous system disorders
• chest trauma
• cystic fibrosis
• diabetes
• food allergies
• gastrointestinal disorders
• peptic ulcer
• scoliosis

Although visible signs of esophagus inflammation can occur, such kinds of obvious symptoms of GERD manifest only in a minority of cases. So what are the symptoms of GERD? And when do you know when to ask for medical help? Continue reading for more about early identification of GERD in the Symptoms of GERD section that follows.