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.
While sore throat from acid reflux is uncomfortable in the short-term, it can also cause long-term damage. Over time, stomach acid can actually damage the esophagus and throat, causing difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and a feeling that food is stuck in your throat.
Treatment might include changing your diet or taking medicine to relieve your symptoms. It might also include changing a medicine that is causing your symptoms. If you have reflux, medicine that reduces the stomach acid helps your body heal. It might take 1 to 3 weeks to heal.
But long-term GERD can lead to more serious health problems: Esophagitis: Esophagitis is the irritation and inflammation the stomach acid causes in the lining of the esophagus. Esophagitis can cause ulcers in your esophagus, heartburn, chest pain, bleeding and trouble swallowing.
After someone has had GERD for many years, it can advance to a condition called Barrett's esophagus. “Barrett's is a defensive mechanism of your esophagus,” explains Dr. Molena, who practices at MSK in Manhattan as well as at MSK Monmouth in Middletown, New Jersey.
Symptoms. Sudden injuries of the esophagus usually cause pain, often felt as sharp pain under the breastbone. They may also cause bleeding, and blood may appear in vomit or stool. Fainting may occur due to this pain, especially if the esophagus ruptures.
Persistent heartburn can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as Barrett's esophagus, hiatal hernia, or esophageal cancer. If heartburn does not resolve after taking antacids, a person should visit a doctor for evaluation.
It often requires treatment for 2–6 months before significant improvement is seen. Attempts to improve vocal hygiene should be undertaken. The person should drink plenty of liquids to prevent a dry throat.
Acid reflux. When there is stomach acid in your oesophagus this can cause you to feel unusual sensations that often manifest as a lump or a bump. Antacids are a simple way to solve this.
Although healing of the esophagus may occur in 6 to 8 weeks, it should not be misunderstood that gastroesophageal reflux can be cured in that amount of time.
“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.”
For many people, it can even feel like something is stuck in the throat or that food is moving down the esophagus at a greatly reduced rate. These sensations can also sometimes be felt more broadly in the back of the throat or across the upper abdomen.
Causes of heartburn and acid reflux
certain food and drink – such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods. being overweight. smoking. pregnancy.
An esophageal stricture can be diagnosed on a barium swallow study and/or upper endoscopy (EGD). In general, an upper endoscopy is needed to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate for the cause of the stricture.
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.
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.
This is because GERD is a chronic, usually lifelong disease that often relapses once treatment is stopped.
No, GERD is a potentially serious condition and it will not go away on its own. Untreated GERD can cause the esophagus to swell and all that stomach acid could potentially wear away the lining. It could even lead to esophageal cancer, which can be fatal.
A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), usually after eating, which might be worse at night or while lying down. Backwash (regurgitation) of food or sour liquid. Upper abdominal or chest pain. Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
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.