Does Acid Reflux Increase Risk for Cancer?

Health Wellness

Depending on which source you use, acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) between 20% and 25% of the population in the United States suffer from this condition.

As the overall diet of most Americans has changed in recent years, the incidents of hospitalizations due to GERD has increased by over 210% from 1998 to 2005 and it’s been increasing more since then.

Basically, acid reflux is caused when the acidic fluids in your stomach come up into your esophagus. For years, it was referred to as heart burn because it often causes a burning feeling right about where the heart is located.

So why does the stomach acid move up into the esophagus?

Usually, it’s due to a weaken esophageal sphincter located at the bottom of the esophagus where it meets the stomach. That sphincter can be weakened due to pregnancy, being overweight, over eating, wearing clothing that is too tight around your middle, smoking, exposure to second hand smoke, and a hiatal hernia (where part of the stomach protrudes through the muscles of the diaphragm.

Diet plays a crucial role in creating excess acid which is very noticeable if the person has GERD. Foods that aggravate GERD include fatty foods, acidy foods like citrus and tomatoes, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol, coffee and chocolate.

The symptoms of GERD include abdominal pain, respiratory issues, problems swallowing, tooth erosion, bad breath, vomiting, nausea and burning in the throat, especially when lying down.

GERD – acid reflux – is easily treated with over the counter anti-acids. Many over the counter meds are proton-pump inhibitors but be warned that there are some harmful side effects being found with using them.

Over 30 years ago, I saw my doctor about my constant heartburn, especially at night when I laid down. He told me I had GERD and, in those days, he prescribed a medication, that I now buy over the counter. He told me to watch my diet and to take the med regularly even when I don’t feel the reflux. I asked him why and he told me if left it untreated and allowed it to persist, the acid reflux would increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Repeated reflux and also lead to esophagitis (an inflammation of the esophagus that can be quite painful when swallowing. It can cause esophageal ulcers and scarring of the lining of the esophagus (esophageal stricture) which causes narrowing of the esophagus.

Repeated reflux can also lead to Barrett’s esophagus. This happens in about 5% to 10% of the people with GERD. About 1% of the people with Barret’s esophagus develop esophageal cancer.

Barret’s esophagus is the condition where repeated stomach acid in the esophagus causes the squamous cells that line to esophagus to change into gland cells like those in the stomach and small intestines. Over time, the gland cells build up and can result in a condition known as dysplasia, which can be a pre-cancerous condition.

While the risk of developing esophageal cancer due to acid reflux is small, is it a risk you feel like taking? If you have regular acid reflux, don’t just ignore it, it’s not just cancer you to worry about. Take something to counter it. It’s also advised to make changes to your diet.

Barrett's Esophagus GERD

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