Understanding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Is Barrett’s Esophagus the Grim Reaper for Esophageal Cancer?

By: Mary Ruff-King | 11/08/2008 | Diseases & Conditions
Barrett’s esophagus, also known as Barrett esophagus, can result from chronic, repeated back up of stomach acid and contents (also known as acid reflux) into the esophagus. As this process continues over time, the esophageal tissues are repeatedly injured.

Naturally Cure Acid Reflux- Lower your Chance of Esophageal Cancer With 7 Tips

By: Joe Barton | 28/10/2007 | Alternative Medicine
Shelly suffered from acid reflux, GERD and Barrett's Esophagus. She was on her way to lead a miserable life leading to esophageal cancer. But, she found a way to naturally cure acid reflux. Discover 7 free tips to cure acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Disease And Cancer

By: Charles Stewart Richey | 06/06/2006 | Alternative Medicine
13,000 people are diagnosed with esophageal cancer each year. At least 12,000 people die from it. The overall survival rate is very poor. Acid reflux is the greatest known risk factor for developing Barrett's Esophagus, which is the precursor of esophageal cancer. Medical science has not found a cure. Could a natural supplement called MSM be the answer?

When Is Acid Reflux Dangerous - Complications To Look Out For

By: Kathryn Whittaker | 09/06/2007 | Health
It would be next to impossible to find anyone that has not had to deal with heartburn and the resulting pain at least once in their lifetime. For most people, this is something that happens on occasion, usually as a result of something we've eaten, and is not really anything...

Ignore Your Acid Reflux And Risk The Possibility of Major Complications

By: David Silva | 16/09/2008 | Diseases & Conditions
Chronic acid reflux occurs when the esophagus never has a chance to heal before the next occurrence. This continuous irritation can eventually lead to permanent damage and major complications.

Persistent Heartburn As An Indicator for Acid Reflux Complications

By: Groshan Fabiola | 25/08/2006 | Health
Heartburn is a symptom characteristic to many disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and it can also be a sign of heart disease. However, heartburn is most commonly experienced by gastro-esophageal disease (acid reflux) sufferers. Heartburn is a sensation of soreness and burning, generally located in the central

Signs And Symptoms Of Acid Reflux Disease

By: Tara Mathews | 19/07/2007 | Health
The causes of acid reflux (GERD) are rather simple should they not lead to complications. GERD without complications causes heartburn, nausea, and regurgitation. However, the complications are rather severe, ranging from an ulcerated esophagus, symptoms of coughing and asthma to Barrett's esophagus which left untreated can lead to esophageal cancer...

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

By: William Lagadyn | 13/02/2008 | Health
Former acid reflux sufferer explains the symptoms of GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and how they can wreck havoc on your body if you choose to mask the problems and don't correct them

GERD #1 ? Understanding GERD

Up to seven million people suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. Unfamiliar with the term, keep watching.

Mark Haltrecht, D.O.
Family Practice Doctor
NSLIJ Plainview Hospital

GERD or acid reflux disease occurs when there is a backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Although, heart burn is a frequent symptom of GERD, a bout of heart burn does not mean that a person has the disease. In fact, GERD is only diagnose when the reflux of stomach acid causes pain that is severe enough to impact the person?s life on a regular basis and that is injurious to the esophagus.

To understand acid reflux disease, it helps to have a basic grasp of how the stomach works and how heart burn occurs. When you swallow, food passes down the throat through a long tube, the esophagus to the stomach. A muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES opens to allow food into the stomach and then closes again. At this point, the stomach releases strong acids to help breakdown the food you have eaten. But in patients with GERD, the LES relaxes when it should not or becomes weak allowing stomach acid to reflux or seep upward almost constantly. While occasional bouts of heart burn are common and generally harmless, frequently occurring acid reflux can greatly damage the esophagus in the long run.

Esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus lining is a condition that occurs in about 20% or GERD sufferers. It can lead to a difficult, painful swelling, and on occasion, ulcers. In other more serious side effect of GERD is esophageal stricture, a narrowing of the esophagus which is caused by the body repeatedly attempting to repair reflux damage. Esophageal stricture can cause difficulty swallowing, food regurgitation and severe weight loss.

Another negative consequence of GERD is Barrett?s esophagus, a condition in which the body changes the structure of the cells lining the esophagus. This occurs due to the body?s repeat attempts to heal acid damage. The problem with these disorders of the esophagus is that many people just believe they have heart burn and our unaware of the more serious consequences of GERD.

Take Stephen, a patient who came to my office complaining about his acid reflux. Stephen had suffered painful bouts of heart burn almost everyday for a year before he came to my office and it is a good thing he did. While he just wanted a quick fix for a heart burn, an endoscopy showed that Stephen had Barrett?s esophagus, an early warning sign for esophageal cancer. This last and most serious result of GERD is rare but esophageal cancer has a very few symptoms and is quite difficult to treat.

If you have recurrent episodes of heart burn that do not go away and do not respond to over the counter treatment, you maybe suffering from GERD. Avoid these severe consequences by talking to your doctor about treatment options.

Want to learn more, check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.