GERD Risk Factors That Must Be Considered And Dealt With
July 29, 2008
Find out below what the Danger Factors of the disease are :
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 factors increasing the risk levels:
GERD can happen when this protrusion of the stomach is big enough to affect the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is the result of a hernia that may be hiatal or diaphragmatic in nature, where part of the stomach distends beyond its normal dimensions to invade the lower chest. Stomach juices flow back into the esophageal channel, resulting in serious heartburn.
As another consequence due to overweight, pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter causes it to malfunction and lets gastric acids reflux back to the esophagus, which engenders heartburn. GERD can therefore also come from being overweight. To avoid GERD, reduce any excess weight. Excess weight strains the stomach and the diaphragm that is in between the stomach and the abdomen.
Risk factors from lifestyle and bad diet habits :
Any excesses in smoking, drinking or eating will put you at risk of GERD. Poor lifestyle and bad diet habits can also have a negative impact.
Asthma is also indirectly involved because the medicaments that act to widen the air path also dilate the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is what allows gastric juices to flow back to the esophagus. There is also the suggestion that excessive coughing and related breathing problems from asthma also put extra pressure on the stomach and increase the danger of GERD.
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:
Although treatments exist for GERD using conventional drugs, there are also holistic remedies. Conventional drugs unfortunately address only the superficial manifestation of the disease, and do not tackle the real underlying reasons. This is where holistic remedies are much more effective, because they treat the fundamental causes and truly allow GERD to be reduced or even eliminated.
Taking a holistic attitude is therefore crucial in order to treat all aspects involved. GERD is a complex phenomenon and the causes are also numerous, including genetically inherited characteristics, diet habits, lifestyle and even candida infections. This is why the holistic cures are so much more effective for eliminating GERD.
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