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GERD is caused by frequent acid reflux — the backup of stomach acid or bile into the esophagus.

 

When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again.

 

However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus, causing frequent heartburn.

GERD is caused by frequent acid reflux — the backup of stomach acid or bile into the esophagus.

When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again.

However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus, causing frequent heartburn.

A final recommendation: If you, yourself, are concerned about this, get your stomach pH tested. That's something that can be done.

Another interesting paper is Altered bowel function and duodenal bacterial overgrowth in patients treated with omeprazole, which concluded that in people treated with PPIs (and thus lowered stomach acidity), food stays in the digestive tract for a shorter, not longer, duration.

A final recommendation: If you, yourself, are concerned about this, get your stomach pH tested. That's something that can be done.

The symptoms seen even in these patients do not generally include chronic acid reflux.

The symptoms seen even in these patients do not generally include chronic acid reflux.