In a normal digestive system
* The muscles that line your digestive system push food along in one direction.
* Special muscles called "sphincters" serve as valves that squeeze shut between one section of your digestive system and the next. Ordinarily, they allow food to pass only in one direction.
* Acid in the stomach helps digest food. The stomach lining resists the damaging effects of this acid.
When GERD strikes
* The sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus becomes loose or relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to flow into the esophagus (acid reflux).
* Repeated acid reflux causes erosions or sores in the lining of the esophagus ("erosive esophagitis"), leading to pain or discomfort.
* GERD symptoms can be worse at night.
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