If you happen to suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, chances are you are going to want to know what causes acid reflux. I have had this condition off and on for several years now. At first I had no idea what caused it and what I could do to relieve the symptoms.

When acid from the stomach escapes or seeps out of the stomach and into the food pipe or esophagus then this is what is known as acid reflux. But, how does the stomach acid 'seep' into the esophagus?

Now, let's look at what causes this condition. Keep in mind that not everyone that has this condition will have the same causes or symptoms.

Smoking is something that can weaken the valve that is between the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter. Since I do not smoke, this is not something that I need to worry about. But, if you do smoke, then obviously this is just another reason to quit.

Here is something that I can relate to in some specific instances. Eating too much can cause heartburn, which is a symptom of acid reflux. What happens is the stomach produces a lot of acid to help digest all the food. Some of this excess acid can get into the esophagus, which causes the burning feeling in the chest.

Another cause of acid reflux that I can relate to is laying down after eating. Apparently, you should wait a few hours after eating before you lie down. In addition, propping the head of your bed up a few inches seems to help prevent nighttime occurrences of this condition. This is not something that I have tried yet but I am looking for a way to do it. Our bed frame is on wheels, so I am not sure how this would work out.

Back to the over eating for a minute. This only happens to me during large family gatherings during the holidays. Most people will over eat during the holidays. Try to eat smaller portions the rest of the year though.

My wife is an excellent cook and she likes to use a lot of curry and spices. This can play havoc with my stomach on occasion. Spicy foods are a huge contributor to the symptoms of acid reflux. So, even though I love spicy food, I have to cut back on it. Otherwise, I have to deal with the reflux problems that often arise after eating that type of food.

If you had to eliminate something from your diet that you loved in order to reduce the acid reflux and heartburn would you do it?

When I think about what causes acid reflux, I cannot forget about coffee. Coffee is a very acidic beverage that almost always gives me heartburn. Yet, I still like a coffee most mornings. It may be time to turn to another beverage in the mornings.

One thing that I will not do is turn to medications to control the reflux. I am more interested in natural cures than medications.