Acid reflux, also referred to as gastroesophageal reflux, occurs when food, liquid and stomach acid travel backward from the stomach into the esophagus. While many people experience acid reflux occasionally, if you suffer from acid reflux at least twice per week, you may have a chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
Physiology
When you swallow, the partially digested food travels from your mouth down into your esophagus, the long narrow tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Connecting your esophagus and your stomach is a band of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. When food reaches the LES, the band of muscle relaxes, opening the sphincter and allowing food to pass through to the stomach. Normally, once the food has made it into the stomach, the band of muscles contracts again, closing the sphincter and preventing food from traveling backward.
Causes of Acid Reflux
Acid reflux occurs when the LES does not close properly after food passes through it. When the LES remains open, food and stomach acid are able to travel backward into the esophagus. This stomach acid irritates the esophageal lining, which is not protected against the harmful effects of the acidity, causing the characteristic symptoms of acid reflux, including chronic coughing.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation in the chest that often radiates to the throat. This sensation, which is referred to as heartburn, may also be accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in your mouth. Acid reflux also triggers a persistent, dry cough that intensifies after meals, according to the Harvard Medical School HealthBeat. Other symptoms may include sore throat, chest pain, difficulty swallowing and the sensation of a lump in your throat.
Prevention
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the chances that you will experience acid reflux and coughing after eating. Avoid certain foods and beverages that can trigger your symptoms. Common trigger foods include chocolate, citrus fruit, spicy foods, fatty foods, mint, tomatoes, tomato-based sauces, full-fat dairy products, caffeine and alcohol. You should also avoid lying down with a full stomach and bending over after meals.
Reducing your meal size may also help reduce symptoms. Large meals put excess stress on your stomach, triggering intense muscle contractions and excess acid production, which can make acid reflux worse. If you eat small meals throughout the day, rather than large meals, you can reduce the stress on your stomach.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; May 2007
- Harvard Medical School HealthBeat; 8 Ways to Handle Heartburn Without Drugs; 2008
- National Center for Biotechnology Information; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; GERD; May 2011
