Common Causes of Acid Reflux

Have you ever panicked about eating certain meals because of the worry of acid reflux? Acid reflux affects many people and some may not even realize what they’re doing that could be causing this consistent pain to occur. It’s important to be able to address these common causes and make some changes so that you can avoid dealing with acid reflux. Dr. Hyon Kang at Gastroenterology Consultants of West Houston in Katy, TX, can explain the common causes of acid reflux and what you can do to prevent it from happening.

Causes of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is when a valve that blocks your esophagus from your stomach acid doesn’t fully close and causes the acid to move up. You can experience pain and discomfort and it can be difficult to function. One common cause of acid reflux is a hiatal hernia. This is when the upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm and causes acid reflux and pain.

There are other factors that could increase your chances of dealing with acid reflux. Some common causes include:

• Laying down after a large meal
• Obesity
• Eating a heavy meal and then laying down or bending over
• Eating close to bedtime
• Certain foods like citrus, tomato, chocolate, garlic, spicy foods, or fatty foods
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee, or tea
• Pregnancy
• Taking aspirin or ibuprofen

Your gastroenterologist in Katy, TX, can help pinpoint what’s causing your acid reflux. From there, they can help you make certain lifestyle changes so that you can start avoiding dealing with a flare-up of acid reflux.

Contact Your Gastroenterologist Today

Find out what’s been causing your acid reflux pain today. Contact Dr. Hyon Kang at Gastroenterology Consultants of West Houston in Katy, TX, to learn more about acid reflux and its causes. Call for more information at (281) 895-2186.