Some causes of reflux are easy to figure out. You just ate a spicy burrito and now you've got heartburn. Kind of a no brainer! But there are other causes of reflux that you may not be aware of. Knowing the hidden causes of reflux is just as important as the obvious ones if you're going to effectively treat acid reflux.

There are three basic conditions that cause acid reflux.

1. Relaxed or weak Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) (the gateway from the esophagus to the stomach)
2. Excess acid in the stomach
3. Excess pressure (internal or external) on the stomach

Any or all of these conditions can lead to an acid reflux event.

Here are some triggers broken down into three simple categories.

Habits

We all have bad habits. But some behaviors can cause acid reflux, directly or indirectly. Smoking relaxes the LES while creating acid ... a double whammy! Being overweight creates external pressure on the stomach. Bending over after a meal, lying down after a meal, wearing tight clothes around your gut ... also put pressure on the ol' tummy. Eating too much ... stuffing yourself, causes internal pressure.

Foods

Not hard to understand. High-fat foods, spicy foods, acidic and citrus fruits are your primary culprits. Some foods create acid. Some foods cause bloating and therefore internal pressure. Other foods, like chocolate and peppermint, relax the LES, which then allows reflux to occur. Also, caffeine drinks, citrus and carbonated drinks, and alcohol can all contribute to acid reflux. Caffeine and citrus creates acid. Carbonated drinks cause bloating and pressure. Alcohol relaxes the LES.

Meds and Medical Conditions

Certain medicines and medical conditions can encourage acid reflux. A hiatal hernia will cause the position of the stomach to shift in relation to the LES, allowing for easy backflow of acid and bile. Pregnancy can create pressure on the stomach. Certain anti-histamines, anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, and some vitamin supplements can produce acid or weaken the LES. Some prescription antibiotics, narcotics and steroids are triggers for acid reflux.

Once you know the causes of reflux, you can start looking at ways to avoid them. But the BEST overall plan for curing acid reflux would be one that:

A) gives simple, practical and effective solutions for quickly SOOTHING the burn that comes with an acid reflux attack

B) provides guidance on how to modify your diet, your habits and (where possible) your meds to AVOID acid reflux triggers

C) offers a long-term plan for natural HEALING of the throat and esophagus so that, in the end, you would have no need for OTC or prescription meds.

Come take the quiz and find out how much YOU know about the causes of reflux. And at the same time you'll discover the ONE acid reflux cure that offers it all!