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One such cause of GERD is a hiatal (or hiatus) hernia. This is an anatomical abnormality where a hole in the diaphragm allows the upper part of the stomach to enter the chest cavity, sometimes leading to GERD. Pregnancy is also sometimes a cause of acid reflux due to extra pressure being placed on the internal organs.
The primary cause of GERD is a compromise of the sphincter where the esophagus enters the stomach. This allows stomach acid to rise up the esophagus, irritating unprotected tissue and causing discomfort. Common causes of sphincter compromise include stomach ulcers, bacterial imbalance, hiatal hernia and stress.