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The Role Of Lower Esophageal Sphincter In Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition that concerns the reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus. This can cause damage to the lining of the esophagus in some patients and some other uncomfortable symptoms in others. Gastroesophageal reflux disease has many factors but the primary factor is the incapacity of the lower esophageal sphincter from doing its function.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter Factor

The esophagus is a tube which lowers from the throat to our stomach. Before it reaches our stomach we can encounter a ring of musculature that connects the esophagus to the stomach. This is the lower esophageal sphincter. The closing and opening movement of the LES is supposed to prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease from happening.

Our lower esophageal sphincter is supposed to tighten around the opening of our stomach in order to keep the stomach acids in it during, before and after a meal. The inability of this muscle to function well causes gastroesophageal reflux disease because our stomach acids can escape our stomach and reach our esophagus when the opening is not tightened by the lower esophageal sphincter.

There are many causes why our lower esophageal sphincter does not function well. It could be that the lower esophageal sphincter tightens but the tightening motion is weak and does not tighten enough to prevent the stomach acids from regurgitating from the stomach. Another prominent cause for gastroesophageal reflux disease due to LES is the abnormal motions of the LES. This is called transient LES relaxations and occurs anytime without any pattern whatsoever. Transient LES relaxations last for several minutes making the escape of stomach acids easier and frequent especially if the stomach is full of food.

Another cause for gastroesophageal reflux disease connected to LES is the laxity of he LES. Due to the distention of the stomach, our lower esophageal sphincter does not tighten at all and this allows the regurgitation of stomach acids in to our esophagus.

Although the malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter is one of the major causes of gastroesoophageal reflux disease, it is not the only cause of it. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is also caused by some acidic foods that we ingest, carbonated or caffeinated beverages that we drink and foods high in fats and oils. Some individuals also need to improve their posture to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease. A slouched position can increase reflux and sleeping with an elevated head can reduce this.