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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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Digestive Disorders |
What causes acid reflux?12/21/1998 |
What causes acid reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when gastric contents leave the stomach and enter the esophagus. A certain amount of this is considered normal. When esophageal acid exposure occurs to such an extent that it causes symptoms, it is termed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Esophageal acid exposure is determined by the balance between the amount of gastric contents entering the esophagus and the rate of clearance of the material that comes up. Abnormalities of the barrier to reflux between the stomach and esophagus (which includes the diaphragm, lower esophageal sphincter and hiatal hernias), delayed emptying of the stomach and impairments in clearance of refluxate (abnormal esophageal motor function and decreased saliva production) are all contributors to GERD. Rarely is GERD due to too much acid production-it's a matter of normal amounts of stomach acid getting into the wrong places.
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Michael Patrick Jones, MD, FACP Director, Center for Digestive Motility Disorders Division of Digestive Diseases Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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