More than 60 million Americans have been diagnosed with painful Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, but for those who don’t get treated, the consequences are sometimes deadly.There are four serious conditions that can result from untreated GERD. They include: esophagitis, dysphagia, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
Esophagitis is an inflammation or irritation of the esophagus caused by stomach acid eroding its lining. Patients with this condition experience trouble swallowing, they may develop mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, or the uncomfortable feeling of something being stuck in the throat.
Doctors diagnose esophagitis using endoscopy, X-ray, or by examining tissue samples. It can be treated with medications to stop the overproduction of stomach acid, such as proton pump inhibitors. GERD patients who develop esophagitis are usually advised to quit smoking and avoid certain foods that stir up stomach acid such as chocolate, some fruits, fatty foods, and alcohol.
Patients with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and getting food to pass from the mouth to the stomach. The flow of acid into the esophagus has caused scar tissue to develop in patients with this condition, which impedes the passage of food. Patients often complain of chest pain or the feeling of having food stuck in the throat or chest. They often have regurgitation of old food and experience frequent coughing while eating.
Treatment consists of oral medications to control stomach acid, and varying the diet to include fewer acid producing foods.
Individuals with a long history of heartburn are advised to have periodic screenings for Barrett’s esophagus. The condition affects about 700,000 adults in the U.S. It is characterized by changes in the tissue that line the esophagus, which experts believe is caused by repeated stomach acid exposure.
Barrett’s often has no symptoms, but when they do occur, patients complain of waking during the night with heartburn; they may have occasional vomiting, blood in the stool, and difficulty vomiting.
There is no treatment for Barrett’s esophagus except for surgery to remove the esophagus.
Once Barrett’s esophagus is diagnosed, doctors recommend that patients undergo periodic endoscopies to screen for esophageal cancer. While it is rare — the American cancer Society says only about 13,000 people are diagnosed with this form of cancer every year — nearly the same number of Americans die from the disease annually.
The most common symptoms of esophageal cancer are pain and difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and occasional hoarseness and coughing.
Doctors diagnose the condition using endoscopy, X-rays, CT scans, and biopsies of tissue samples. When caught early — that is, while the cancer is still confined to the esophagus — patients can have a good prognosis.
Treatment involves surgery to remove the portion of the esophagus containing the growth. The surgeon will then reconnect the remainder of the esophagus to the stomach. Traditional cancer therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy, are also used as adjuvant treatments to surgery.
The best way to prevent all or any of these conditions is to see your doctor if you experience frequent heartburn.
