When should I see a doctor for heartburn? If you experience frequent (more than two times per week) or severe heartburn, or if your heartburn is accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention.
Stage 1 (mild): A person has infrequent heartburn and regurgitation happening once or less each week. Stage 2 (moderate): A person has regurgitation or heartburn occurring a few times a week. Stage 3 (severe): A person has regular heartburn, a chronic cough, regurgitation, a hoarse voice, and regurgitation of food.
If the pain is not relieved shortly after taking antacids, or is accompanied by these symptoms, seek emergency medical care: Squeezing/tightening in the chest. Feeling out of breath. Pain, aching or discomfort radiating from the chest to the arms, back or neck.
Antacids provide fast heartburn relief. They start to work in seconds* to neutralize stomach acid, making your stomach contents less acidic and reducing the chances that acidic liquid will leak into your esophagus (the muscular tube that connects your mouth and stomach).
Stage 4 of GERD is when noticeable changes to the affected tissues are most likely to occur due to years of repeated damage. This is the stage when severe conditions like dysplasia and Barrett's esophagus are most like to form. In some cases, esophageal cancer may form at this stage.
Symptoms of Stage 4 GERD
Sore throat. Hoarse voice. Chronic cough. Dysphagia (food getting stuck in the esophagus while eating)
If you are experiencing heartburn on a daily basis, it is likely time to be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Persistent, untreated GERD may lead to more serious conditions. Sometimes, it can be a precursor to other diseases, including cancer.
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.
Heartburn occurring more than twice per week is a symptom of GERD and may require stronger or prescription medications. Persistent heartburn can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as Barrett's esophagus, hiatal hernia, or esophageal cancer.
People without a history of heartburn can suddenly develop heartburn as a result of eating certain foods, some eating patterns, drinking, and smoking. Stress, anxiety, certain medications, and some medical conditions can also cause it.
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.
A GERD flare-up typically occurs after large meals and can last for two to three hours.
The duration of GERD symptoms can vary from person to person. In some cases, symptoms may occasionally last a few hours. In other cases, symptoms may be more frequent and persist for several days or weeks.
“Basically your survival rate is less than 20%. So it's important to identify people in the early change stage before they actually advance to esophageal cancer.”
The Dangers of Untreated GERD
Dr. Tosch warns that chronic, untreated GERD can cause serious complications. Over time, recurring acid reflux can damage the lining of the esophagus. This inflammation condition is called esophagitis.
Acid reflux can cause a burning sensation in the throat and chest. Drinking water, low fat milk, and herbal teas may help manage it. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sodas may worsen symptoms, however.
Stress caused by anxiety may also affect contractions occurring in the esophagus, which propel food toward the stomach. If these contractions become irregular, it can lead to reflux. Finally, high stress and anxiety levels may increase the production of stomach acid.
The feeling of acid reflux is heartburn: a mild burning sensation in the mid-chest, often occurring after meals or when lying down. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of acid reflux. In GERD, the backflow of stomach acid occurs chronically and causes damage to the body over time.
While both involve inflammation, the key difference between gastritis vs. GERD is where that inflammation occurs in your GI tract. Gastritis has to do with inflammation in the stomach while GERD pertains to inflammation in your esophagus.
Sometimes, if Gaviscon does not work or agree with you, your doctor or pharmacist may suggest another reflux suppressant. Like Gaviscon, you can buy Peptac or Acidex from pharmacies and supermarkets.
Acid reflux is common and it can come and go, especially after eating certain foods. Normal people may have acid reflux for an hour a day and not feel anything. It may disappear without the help of medication. But people with chronic heartburn need some form of treatment.