Is it any surprise that there are more and more cases of acid reflux in children being reported every single year? Doctors are writing more prescriptions for medications for children who have acid reflux and more children are reporting symptoms of the disease every year. But why is there such an increase in the number of cases of acid reflux in children; what is the cause and better yet, what is the best form of treatment?
While a small amount of acid reflux cases are caused by a defect in the small valve or flap that covers the top of the stomach, which is supposed to keep stomach acid where it belongs, most cases of acid reflux are caused by poor dietary habits. This includes acid reflux in children. For example, red meat is very high in acids and enzymes that are difficult for the body to break down and digest. They cause the stomach to produce more acids on its own so there is a rush of acids when you eat red meat. Many people today eat hamburgers almost every single day; this means that their stomach is producing an onslaught of acid on a daily basis. Heavy oils also cause acid reflux flare-ups, and foods that are fried often cause acid reflux in children. Think of how many times children eat fried foods, from toaster pastries in the morning to chicken nuggets and fries for lunch, along with potato chips, corn chips, and popcorn also cooked in oil. Foods like macaroni and pizza also contain a lot of oil, as do many desserts such as cakes, cookies, and brownies. All of these typically cause acid reflux in children.
It's also true that eating too much food at any one time causes acid reflux in children as well as adults. When your stomach is overly full, the acids have no choice but to spill back out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. Think of how meals these days have grown to monstrous proportions, not to mention how many snacks kids have in between meals.
It's interesting to note that there is an increase in cases of obesity every single year, and many of the causes of obesity are the same as the causes of acid reflux in children. Meals that are very calorie dense, that are made up of fried items, junk foods, sugary foods, and heavy meats and oils all contribute to both obesity and acid reflux in children.
If your child has chronic heartburn meaning an attack more than once per week, you may want to take him or her to the doctor for a thorough exam. In the meantime, keep an eye on the dietary habits of your family and see if perhaps there are some choices the family is making that is contributing to the acid reflux in children in your family. It may take some extra effort to change your daily meals, but it can be worth it if it means controlling flare-ups of acid reflux.
