Healing from acid reflux is a gradual process that requires dedication to lifestyle modifications and appropriate treatment. While short-term relief can be achieved within days or weeks, long-term healing may take several weeks to months.
Heartburn symptoms can last around 2-4 hours until the food leaves your stomach and goes into your small intestine. Even after that point, you can have symptoms return later on. This could go on and repeat for days or weeks if left untreated.
The answer depends on the individual and the severity of their GERD. Some people's symptoms may disappear within a few weeks with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, for others, GERD can be a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.
Difficulty swallowing. Painful swallowing. Swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus, also known as food impaction. Chest pain, particularly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating.
GERD treatments focus on a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery or other procedure to help correct the condition. With successful management, a person may find their symptoms are reduced significantly or go away entirely.
“Untreated acid reflux can result in chronic damage or scarring in the esophagus,” explains Dr. Lynch. “Scarring in the esophagus can cause strictures, which become more difficult to treat as further acid damage occurs.” Delay in properly managing acid reflux may lead to a condition call Barrett's esophagus.
Heartburn for multiple days in a row can result from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus, or esophageal cancer. Heartburn refers to the burning sensation in the chest that happens as a result of stomach acid. This is called acid reflux. Occasional acid reflux is normal .
Surgery for GERD
The goal of surgery for reflux disease is to strengthen the anti-reflux barrier. During a procedure known as a Nissen fundoplication, your surgeon wraps the upper part of your stomach around the lower esophagus. This enhances the anti-reflux barrier and can provide permanent relief from reflux.
Heartburn can last for a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the cause. If heartburn is due to something you ate, you will probably have symptoms until the food has been digested. Lying down or bending over can cause symptoms to return even after you've started to feel better.
Once the right treatment begins, healing usually begins immediately. But it may take three to six weeks for esophagitis to heal completely. If the cause is a chronic condition, you may need long-term therapy to manage it.
Once you have reflux, it tends to be chronic, or repeated throughout your lifetime. There are several medications available for relieving mild, moderate, and severe heartburn, but these don't necessarily fix the problem. Tums, for example, help to eliminate discomfort caused by GERD by making the acid less irritating.
Mild acid reflux typically occurs in the same place each time you experience a flare-up of your symptoms. However, if the pain moves around your stomach or chest or it relocates to a new area entirely, you should go to the ER or your doctor immediately.
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.
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.
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.
If you have reflux, medicine that reduces the stomach acid helps your body heal. It might take 1 to 3 weeks to heal. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
Lifestyle choices are often a major factor in triggering GERD symptoms, such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. Some of the most common triggers include eating large meals, consuming acidic or spicy foods, drinking alcohol and caffeine, smoking, and being overweight or obese.
Stomach acid is essential for digestion, but sometimes acid-producing cells in your digestive system pump out too much acid. Symptoms of high stomach acid can include belly pain, bloating, and heartburn.
Gaviscon can be used to treat heartburn (acid reflux) and indigestion. The medicine works by forming a protective layer that floats on top of the contents of your stomach. This stops stomach acid escaping up into your food pipe.
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.
In some patients, heartburn does not go away, and over time the acids in the stomach damage the cells in the esophagus to the extent that they cannot repair themselves ... and this can lead to Barrett's esophagus.
If you've had trouble with heartburn, regurgitation and acid reflux for more than five years, then you should ask your doctor about your risk of Barrett's esophagus.