Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
What Increases Your Risk
Things that increase your risk for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include your lifestyle and certain health conditions.
Lifestyle
- Being overweight.
- Smoking.
- Drinking alcohol.
- Eating certain foods, such as chocolate or peppermint, that may relax the valve between the stomach and esophagus.
Health conditions
- Being pregnant. Many pregnant women have Reference symptoms of GERD during pregnancy. Most of the time, symptoms get better after the baby is born.
- Having a Reference hiatal hernia.
- Taking certain medicines. If you think that a medicine you take may be causing your GERD symptoms, talk to your doctor.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference March 6, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology |
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