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Complications of Untreated Heartburn and GERD
If it's not controlled, acid reflux or GERD can result in serious problems, including esophagitis, esophageal bleeding and ulcers, Barrett's esophagus, strictures, and an increased risk of esophageal cancer.�
What Is Esophagitis?
Too much stomach acid backwash in the esophagus can cause a painful and irritating inflammation of the esophagus called esophagitis. It occurs when stomach acid repeatedly comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus because the physical barrier called the esophageal sphincter is disrupted. Esophagitis may cause esophageal bleeding or ulcers and scarring, and if esophagitis is not accurately diagnosed and treated, the person can develop Barrett's esophagus, a risk factor for esophageal cancer.
Esophagitis is treated with the same prescription medications used to treat GERD.
What Is Barrett's Esophagus?
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Barrett's esophagus is a serious condition that develops in some people who have chronic, untreated GERD. Barrett's esophagus increase the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.�
Damage to the lining of the esophagus -- for example, by acid reflux from GERD -- can cause abnormal changes in the cells (called dysplasia) that line the esophagus. The normal cells that line the esophagus are damaged and replaced by a type of cell not usually found in the esophagus, and can lead to cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Barrett's Esophagus?
Symptoms are the same as those of GERD, although often more severe. Some people have no�symptoms at all.
How Is Barrett's Esophagus Diagnosed?
Barrett's esophagus is diagnosed with a test called an upper endoscopy to look at the lining of the esophagus and obtain a biopsy to examine a sample of tissue.
How Is Barrett's Esophagus Treated?
The goal of treatment is to prevent further damage to the esophagus by stopping any acid reflux from the stomach. Proton-pump inhibitor medications like Nexium, Protonix, Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid, and Aciphex are the mainstay of treatment. These drugs reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. If these medications do not work, surgery to tighten the sphincter or "valve" between the esophagus and stomach may be necessary.
Doctors may use a newer technique called ablation to destroy the damaged tissue. This procedure is usually reserved for those patients at high risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Does Barrett's Esophagus Cause Cancer?
Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant condition that may lead to the development of esophageal cancer in some people. Up to 0.5% of people with Barrett's esophagus will develop esophageal cancer each year. Because of the cancer risk, people with Barrett's esophagus need regular checkups of the esophagus.
What Are Strictures of the Esophagus?
Sometimes the damaged lining of the esophagus becomes scarred, causing narrowing of the esophagus, called strictures. These strictures can interfere with eating and drinking by preventing food and liquid from reaching the stomach. Strictures are treated by dilation, in which an instrument gently stretches the strictures and expands the narrowing in the esophagus.
WebMD Medical Reference
Heartburn/GERD Guide
It’s not just what you eat that can cause your stomach to churn. It’s also how much you eat and what you do after meals.
