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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - What Increases Your Risk

Things that increase your risk for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include:

Lifestyle

Recommended Related to Heartburn/GERD

Common Heartburn Triggers

What triggers heartburn can be, well, a burning question. Here's what you need to know about the common causes of heartburn and what you can do to prevent the pain.

Read the Common Heartburn Triggers article > >

  • 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. Up to 80% of pregnant women have symptoms of GERD during pregnancy.1 Most of the time, symptoms get better after the baby is born.
  • Having a hiatal hernia.
  • Taking certain medicines. If you think that a medicine you take may be causing your GERD symptoms, talk to your doctor.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 11, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
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