Just between your chest and abdomen is where you’ll find one of the most important muscles you probably didn't know you had: the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES.
When functioning properly, this ring of tissue plays a crucial role in helping us eat.
But when the LES malfunctions, it becomes the main player in heartburn --a searing, sometimes sour-tasting chest-spasm that many people will experience at some point in their lives.
We know that humans have been battling heartburn for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
But recently the incidence has risen, making it a common stomach complaint worldwide
When the symptoms of heartburn become more more regular and intense —such as twice a week week or more-- it’s diagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD,
But what causes this problem, and how can it be stopped?
Heartburn starts in an area called the gastroesophageal junction, where the LES resides.
This smooth, muscular ring of the LES is moderated by an intricate tree of nerve roots that connect to the brain, the heart, and the lungs.
After food enters the stomach from the esophagus, the muscle’s task is to stop it from surging back up again.
