Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach contents, such as food, digestive juices and hydrochloric acid, travel backwards from the stomach into the esophagus. Everyone is likely to experience acid reflux at some point in their lives. If you frequently experience acid reflux, you may have a chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Over time, acid reflux damages the lining of the esophagus and can cause ulcers.
Physiology
When you swallow, food travels from your esophagus into your stomach via a band of muscle fibers called the lower esophageal sphincter. Normally, the sphincter relaxes to allow food to travel through into the stomach and then contracts again to prevent food and stomach contents from flowing backwards. If the lower esophageal sphincter does not contract and close properly, stomach contents can leak into the esophagus, likely causing burning pain, nausea and feelings of pressure.
Formation of Ulcers
Your digestive tract is lined with a layer of mucus that serves to protect the digestive tract from harm. Because your stomach contains hydrochloric acid, your stomach mucus also contains enzymes that help neutralize acid and prevent it from eating away at the stomach lining. Because the mucus in your esophagus is not normally exposed to high levels of acid, it does not produce the proper enzymes to neutralize acid. If your esophagus is constantly exposed to high levels of hydrochloric acid, the acid eventually breaks down the mucus lining and begins to eat away at the esophageal tissue. Over time, this can result in the development of a type of peptic ulcer called an esophageal ulcer. If left unmanaged, esophageal ulcers may lead to infections and internal bleeding.
Diet
You can help prevent the development of esophageal ulcers by controlling your acid reflux through the proper diet. If an ulcer does develop, the proper diet may help reduce the severity of symptoms. The first step in treating acid reflux through your diet is to identify trigger foods, which are the foods that cause symptoms. Trigger foods may differ between individuals, but some common trigger foods include tomatoes, tomato sauce, spicy foods, fatty foods, dairy products, citrus fruits and chocolate. Alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages often trigger symptoms as well. Once you identify your trigger foods, you should remove them from your diet.
Eating Schedule
It can also be beneficial to eat several small meals over the course of the day, rather than a few large meals. This helps ensure that your stomach does not get too full and can decrease your risk of experiencing symptoms. When you eat a small volume of food, your stomach also produces less hydrochloric acid to digest the food. You should also avoid lying down within three hours after a meal, as this can exacerbate symptoms.
