A 46-year-old member asked:
what causes lower esophageal sphincter relaxation failure?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sidney Vinsonanswered
Gastroenterology 27 years experience
Good question: Your question is a bit confusing. If you me what causes the les not to relax, this would be a neuromuscular disease called achalasia or perhaps chagas disease. If you are asking what makes the les relax too much, leading to gerd, that would be spicy foods, caffeine, nicotine, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, some medications, tomatoes and their sauces as well as others.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Emanuel Winocuranswered
Psychiatry 67 years experience
Spasm: Involuntary contraction of the circular (ring) muscle of the esophageal sphincter.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
What foods weaken the lower esophageal sphincter?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Cookeanswered
Thoracic Surgery 22 years experience
Many: Nicotene, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, mints, tomato based products, very spicy foods.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
How to heal lower esophageal sphincter naturally?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Loki Skylizardanswered
Thoracic Surgery 20 years experience
Generally doesn't: In general, gerd is a chronic condition that does not heal or get "cured" by medications. Depending on consultation with your family physician and referral to specialists, they will work with you to decide best course of treatment. If nothing else is done, gerd (symptomatic acid reflux) will require life long medication to alleviate/treat symptoms. http://goo.gl/0rrqv.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Whats incompetency of the lower esophageal sphincter?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Thomas Birdasanswered
Thoracic Surgery 26 years experience
Prone to reflux: The les prevents excessive reflux of the stomach contents into the esophagus. When it is incompetent, it is more likely you will develop symptoms of gerd (gastresophageal reflux disease) such as heartburn, esophagitis etc.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Which medicines can fix damage caused to the lower esophageal sphincter?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Jeffrey Crespinanswered
Gastroenterology 28 years experience
None: There are medicines like viagra (sildenafil) which can decrease lower esophagel sphincter pressure and there are drugs that can increase GI motility, but there are no fda approved meds that raise les-lower esophageal sphincter pressure.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
How do certain foods eaten in gulps weaken the lower esophageal sphincter?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Andrew Turrisianswered
Radiation Oncology 47 years experience
Not sure: I agree, and you would have just ruined the hot dog gorging contests if true. The lower esophageal sphincter is more functional than an anatomic vice, ergo hard to rupture. I am not endorsing gulping or gorging, but sphincter tome is determined more by ph, hormones, and diaphragm anatomy than swallowing.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 15, 2021
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