GERD is a potentially serious condition, and it will not go away on its own. Untreated GERD can lead to inflammation of the esophagus and cause complications like ulcers, strictures and increased risk of Barrett's esophagus, which is a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Yes, GERD can be cured. The most common treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is medication, which can help to decrease the amount of acid in your stomach. If lifestyle changes don't help, your doctor may also recommend surgery.
If you have reflux, medicine that reduces the stomach acid helps your body heal. It might take 1 to 3 weeks to heal.
Generally, long-term maintenance therapy is needed for most patients with GERD. The damage caused by mild GERD can be possibly reversed or reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and taking medications.
The answer depends on the individual and the severity of their GERD. Some people's symptoms may disappear within a few weeks with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, for others, GERD can be a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.
Untreated esophagitis can lead to ulcers, scarring, and severe narrowing of the esophagus, which can be a medical emergency. Your treatment options and outlook depend on the cause of your condition. Most healthy people improve within two to four weeks with proper treatment.
Difficulty swallowing. Painful swallowing. Swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus, also known as food impaction. Chest pain, particularly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating.
Esophagitis can usually heal without intervention, but to aid in the recovery, eaters can adopt what's known as an esophageal, or soft food, diet. The goal of this kind of diet is to make eating less painful and to keep food from lingering in the esophagus and causing irritation.
It can vary. For some folks, it can last just a few minutes. Sometimes it can last for several hours. Heartburn happens about once a week for up to 20% of Americans and is common in pregnant women.
In this population-based study with >50,000 person-years of follow-up, the results suggested that the presence of frequent or infrequent heartburn symptoms was not associated with a decrease in overall life expectancy.
There is no one clear age where heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) see a specific spike, but it's a fact of life that heartburn does worsen as we get older.
An antacid or alginate can help until your acid levels return to normal. For most people acid levels return to normal within one to two weeks.
B vitamins
In fact, one study found that increased intake of several B vitamins was associated with a lower risk of reflux esophagitis, a condition characterized by inflammation in the esophagus often caused by acid reflux ( 8 ).
A perforation in the uppermost (neck region) part of the esophagus may heal by itself if you do not eat or drink for a period of time. In this case, you will need a stomach feeding tube or another way to get nutrients. Surgery is often needed to repair a perforation in the middle or bottom portions of the esophagus.
Damage to Your Esophagus
Symptoms include painful swallowing, nausea, and chest pain. Your doctor will prescribe medicine to control your GERD and treat the ulcer.
Barrett's esophagus developed after 20 wk, while esophageal adenocarcinoma appeared after 40 wk[72].
There are several causes of high stomach acid. Examples include H. pylori infection, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and rebound effects from medication withdrawal. If left untreated, high stomach acid can lead to complications like ulcers or GERD.
The bottom line. Occasional acid reflux isn't usually associated with long-term or serious complications. However, when acid reflux occurs frequently and is left untreated, it can lead to conditions such as esophagitis, ulcers, strictures, aspiration pneumonia, and Barrett's esophagus.
Having heartburn or acid reflux from time to time is normal; having it frequently interrupt your life is not. If you suffer symptoms of reflux more than twice a week, you may have GERD.