Stomach acid can break down tissue in the esophagus, causing inflammation, bleeding, and sometimes an open sore (ulcer). Esophagitis can cause pain and make swallowing difficult. Narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture). Damage to the lower esophagus from stomach acid causes scar tissue to form.
GERD can be a problem if it's not treated because, over time, the reflux of stomach acid damages the tissue lining the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain. In adults, long-lasting, untreated GERD can lead to permanent damage of the esophagus.
Long-term acid reflux can damage the esophagus and may lead to a condition known as Barrett's esophagus, which is a precursor to esophageal cancer. Barrett's affects about 3% to 10% of older men, but within this group the risk of developing esophageal cancer is only about four in every 1,000 cases.
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. People who have frequent episodes of acid reflux are also at a slightly increased risk for developing esophageal cancer.
If you experience severe chest pain or pressure, especially in combination with pain in the jaw, neck, or back, nausea and vomiting, or difficulty breathing, seek medical help immediately.
Stage 4: Reflux induced precancerous lesions or esophageal cancer. Stage 4 is the result of many years of untreated severe reflux. 10% of patients with long-term GERD progress to stage 4. They develop a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus.
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.
While GERD can be a painful disturbance to your lifestyle, it doesn't necessarily affect your lifespan. Those who can manage their symptoms effectively will have a healthier and improved quality of life.
Esophageal stricture: Over time, the damage caused by stomach acid can scar the lining of the esophagus. When this scar tissue builds up, it makes the esophagus narrow. Called strictures, these narrow spots make it hard to swallow food and drinks, which can lead to weight loss and dehydration.
In milder cases of GERD, lifestyle changes may allow the body to heal itself. This lowers the risk for long-term damage to the esophagus, throat, or teeth. However, sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough.
In people with GERD, the ongoing irritation in the esophagus can lead to inflammation, bleeding, ulcers, a buildup of scar tissue, and other complications. In some people with GERD, the chronic irritation causes the cells in the lining of the esophagus to change, increasing the risk of esophageal cancer.
If you have reflux, medicine that reduces the stomach acid helps your body heal. It might take 1 to 3 weeks to heal.
GERD is a medical condition in which acidic liquids in the stomach leak up into the esophagus. Minor cases of GERD can heal in less than a month while moderate cases can take 6 to 12 weeks of treatment.
Barrett's esophagus developed after 20 wk, while esophageal adenocarcinoma appeared after 40 wk[72].
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.
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.
Most babies spit up a few times a day during their first 3 months. GER does not cause any problems in babies. In most cases, babies outgrow this by the time they are 12 to 14 months old. It is also common for children and teens ages 2 to 19 to have GER from time to time.
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.
Currently, there are no medications to reverse Barrett's esophagus. However, it appears that treating the underlying GERD may slow the progress of the disease and prevent complications. Following are some things the patient can do to help reduce acid reflux and strengthen the LES.
difficulty swallowing, which may feel like a piece of food is stuck low down in your throat. pain when swallowing. a sore throat and hoarseness. a persistent cough or wheezing, which may be worse at night.
See a GP if:
you have heartburn most days for 3 weeks or more. you also have other symptoms, like food getting stuck in your throat, frequently being sick, or losing weight for no reason.