Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Sensitive Bowel (Harvard Special Health Reports)In consultation with Lawrence S. Friedman, MD Stanford, CTIn this article, you are informed about a disease that occurs most often in our society. It is commonly called “heartburn,” but is more appropriately called acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Most people suffer from this disease, but do not think about it. Perhaps they felt it after a large meal, lying down after eating, during pregnancy, or even when bending over. Most people believe that GERD occurs after eating spicy foods, when in reality the main cause of GERD is fatty foods and the amount of foods consumed. The main causes of GERD occur because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), or the sphincter that closes the esophagus that goes to the stomach, weakens or stops working properly. Scientists are finding that different nutritional habits affect the functioning of the LES. Things like dietary supplements, medications, or anything containing caffeine will actually cause the LES to malfunction. A common condition associated with GERD and SLE problems is a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when you have a larger-than-normal opening in the diaphragm where the esophagus passes. Since this opening is larger, the stomach begins to enter this opening. When you eat, the stomach and esophagus ...