- Image via Wikipedia
Heartburn and acid reflux are two associated conditions which affect a part of the patient’s gastro-intestinal tract – more precisely, the esophagus. While heartburn is only a transient occurence and may not have any other health implications whatsoever, it can also be a symptom of acid reflux – also named the gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, for short. GERD is an affliction which can become quite severe if left untreated, and it can in turn lead to the onset of more severe diseases, some of them potentially lethal.
Heartburn and acid reflux can be easily treated and there are several types of treatment available – from diet and life style changes, to medication therapies and surgery, and everyone is advised to check with their personal health care providers whenever they begin experiencing this type of digestive discomfort. However, many individuals prefer to dismiss heartburn and acid reflux as non-important, passing indigestion, only to discover the real nature of their problem when it may already be too late.
Among the most common complications of heartburn and acid reflux, studies show an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, a painful affliction which in turn can cause the onset of esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus is hard to diagnose, because there are no specific symptoms, and the only way to detect it is by performing an endoscopy and a biopsy. These procedures will reveal the fact that the tissue of the esophageal lining has been badly damaged by the gastric acids refluxing, that it has changed appearance and composition.
Another one of the side effects associated with heartburn and acid reflux is erosive esophagitis, a painful affection caused by the gastric acid traveling inside the esophagus and causing tissue inflammation and irritation. The symptoms can be mild, under the form of a burning sensation along the length of the esophagus, but more severe cases are characterized by the presence of lesions in the esophagus, caused by the digestive acids. Usually, this affliction is diagnosed by performing an endoscopy or by taking X-ray pictures of the esophagus, after the patient has swallowed a special contrast agent.
Also, erosive esophagitis can lead to a number of complications of its own – generally malnutrition and dehydration related disorders, as the patient is unable to drink or eat due to the pain caused by swallowing. Medical attention is required, and the health care professional will prescribe a medication treatment to relieve the patient’s symptoms.
Apart from the above, other afflictions may occur as a result of untreated heartburn and acid reflux as well. In order to avoid any such complications, it is strongly recommended to check with your doctor as soon as you experience the specific burning sensation in the back of your sternum.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c9a5bcdf-2a23-4e55-a0c6-6124d8889063)
Related posts:
