How to avoid GERD attacks Gastroesophageal reflux disease after repeated chronic inflammatory stimulation, the original squamous epithelium of esophagus can be replaced by proliferation of chemotactic columnar epithelium, called Barrett’s esophagus, which is one of the most risk factors for esophageal cancer. Other complications include bleeding, esophageal stricture, perforation, and respiratory inflammation. Some patients may have unexplained nocturnal choking cough and wheezing. What are the triggering factors of this disease? The contributing factor of GERD is that the lower esophageal sphincter cannot close effectively to stop the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, while overeating causes increased pressure in the stomach, delayed gastric emptying, and gastric gas reversion leading to reflux. Therefore, most of the attacks occur about 1 hour after eating, or the reflux symptoms are aggravated. The consumption of spicy and sweet foods such as high fat and chocolate often causes an increase in gastric acid secretion, which reduces the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter and decreases its anti-reflux defense mechanism. Postural factors The disease is often induced or aggravated by heartburn when the body is flexed, bent over, head down, lying on the back and other positions. The onset of heartburn and chest pain at night, often 2 to 3 hours after going to sleep, is obviously related to postural factors. Seasonal and climatic factors The onset of the disease seen clinically is often related to the seasonal climate, with the turn of spring and summer, autumn and winter seasons prone to the onset of the old disease. Humidity, heat and cold are also important factors in triggering the disease. Long-term constipation Gastroesophageal reflux disease is often decreased gastrointestinal power, emptying dysfunction, with endothermic constipation, and forceful defecation, and increased abdominal pressure, inducing gastric gas reflux. Certain drug stimulation Such as aspirin, hormones, atropine, pancreatin, isoprenaline, etc., can stimulate gastric acid, so that the esophageal sphincter pressure is reduced. Food processing methods Such as frequent consumption of food processed by baking, burning, scalding, roasting, frying, etc., can directly burn the esophageal mucosa and induce lesions. Emotional factors Mental and emotional factors have a close relationship with the secretory function of the digestive tract and its movement. The secretion of gastric acid decreases during fear, anxiety, depression and despair, and increases during anger. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the pathogenesis of the disease is that the lack of emotion, depression and anger can lead to loss of drainage of the liver, which can lead to the disconnection of the spleen and stomach, the imbalance of the elevation of the qi, and the upward rebellion of the gas; or the liver depression can lead to fire, which can burn the yin of the stomach, and the stomach can lose moistening and lowering, which can damage the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus and induce the disease.