by Victor Strange

Created on: May 20, 2010

There is a torturous condition that is sweeping across America, leaving nearly 15 million people affected daily. I am speaking of none other than heart burn. But heart burn that is experienced in an individual on a frequent basis is known as GERD, or Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease. Many of you who are reading this article at one time or another have experienced heart burn; the burn in the chest, the acid taste, the belching and the queasy feeling in the gut. So just what is it that is happening within us that produces this wretched feeling? There are a number of things that can lead to heart burn, but GERD can be much more complex. Understanding that GERD is more so, a lasting and even chronic condition, let us examine GERD more in-depth and uncover some of the factors that can lead to GERD.

I believe the number one cause of GERD is unquestionably diet. One word that was used to describe heartburn was indigestion; which is a very revealing term which in layman terms means failure to digest. With that being said we must quickly take a look at how our digestive system works upon the consumption of a meal.

Digestion first begins in the mouth: Remember the time when you were eager to tear into that juicy steak dinner? As the aroma hit your nostrils, your mouth began to salivate as you anticipated your taste buds being satisfied by this delicious treat. As you slice off a portion and begin to chew, that saliva; which consists of enzymes, electrolytes and bacteria, in combination with the grinding of the meal begins the digestive process. So quite naturally if a person was to spend time with the food, taking time to chew it properly, digestion will begin on the right track. As the food moves down the esophagus it enters into the stomach where a hydrochloric acid bath awaits. The stomach can hold about 1.5 quarts of material and a meal usually resides in the stomach for about two to six hours depending on the type. The stomach; which does a great deal of the work in breaking down the meal, turns the meal into a pudding-like substance called chyme. At this point the stomach begins to process this substance into the small intestine where further digestion carries on. At this phase of digestion the pancreas secretes enzymes to neutralize the stomach acid making the substance more suitable for the small intestines. The small intestines break down starches, fats and other substances through the aid of digestive enzymes, bile from the liver, and other present fluids. Another

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