Chapter 1: Clinical Overview
Occasional acid reflux / heartburn can be caused by:
Eating a large meal.
Eating a large meal and then doing , for example, some lifting, bending, or lying down.
Too much coffee or alcohol.
Anxiety and stress.
Certain medicines.
Advanced pregnancy, when the womb pushes up against the stomach.
Persistent acid reflux / heartburn can be caused by obesity:
The extra fat in the abdominal wall reduces the space for the stomach and small intestine.
Any extra pressure, like bending over, forces the stomach contents up into the oesophagus.
Frequent acid reflux / heartburn (GORD) can also be caused by:
A hiatus hernia – when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and stays there.
Diet – fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, tomatoes, spicy foods, and hot drinks.