It’s a part of our everyday life. But how you eat that next meal could have an adverse affect on your esphogus.

“The way we’re built, how heavy we are, our dietary habits affect whether we will have reflux symptomology,” says, Dr. H. Scott Harris, a gastroenterologist on the Lee Memorial Health System medical staff.

While the term “acid reflux” sounds like a problem, Dr. Harris says it’s an ordinary part of life. “We all have reflux. Is a normal thing to have, it’s just whether it develops symptoms with it or it’s our own body’s defense mechanism that controls the symptoms.” When we eat, our food passes through several zones in the body. There’s a high pressure zone at the bottom of our esophogus which is designed to only allow certain amounts of food through.

When that zone malfunctions, acid reflux becomes a problem. “If for some reason that high pressure zone, people call it a sphyincter or a valve, if its incompetent or stays open, there’s a great tendency for the enzymes or acid material to back up into the esophagus and cause damage,” explains Dr. Harris. Eating quickly can contribute to the problem and in certain cases, a change in the body could also be a culprit.

Doctors say the warning signs are evident and serious. “We have what we call alarm symptoms which are particularly vomiting, pain, trouble swallowing, or food sticking as they try and get them down.”

So at your next meal, try taking the time to chew slowly and savor every bite. It could make for a more relaxing meal for you and your body.