Alcohol

Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in the chest and upper throat. Alcohol can trigger or worsen heartburn in some people. Heavy to moderate alcohol use may make worsen GERD symptoms including heartburn. This is because drinking alcohol causes the LES to relax, which may cause stomach acid to leak into the esophagus and cause heartburn.

Alcohol use is also a risk factor for GERD, according to studies. One 2019 review found that people who drank more alcohol or drank alcohol more regularly had a greater likelihood of GERD. This does not mean that alcohol causes GERD, but it does suggest that there may be a link. Other research has shown that people who drank alcohol more frequently than five times or days a week were more than twice as likely to develop GERD than those who drank alcohol infrequently or not at all, according to a study of 29 studies.