Heartburn, Acid Reflux and The Side Effects

There is nothing better than sharing a meal with family and friends. You eat, talk and laugh, and have a wonderful time. All the while you are thinking, when is the heartburn going to start?

Heartburn is often associated with acid reflux disease. This is a serious disease that if left untreated, can have painful consequences, some potential deadly.

For those who choose not to treat their acid reflux disease, dismissing it as mere heartburn, are leaving themselves susceptible to such diseases as Barrett?s esophagus disease.

Not only is this painful disease, but also it is know to be a precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer.

Barrett?s Esophagus is when the lining of the esophagus is damaged so badly by acid reflux disease that it resembles the lining of the small intestines. It can only be diagnosed by a physician. It is very difficult because there are little or no symptoms associated with Barrett?s Esophagus, and only one test to diagnose it. A gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy.

This procedure is somewhat invasive. A physician inserts a lighted camera into the esophagus and it is determined if the lining looks abnormal. The physician will decide if a biopsy is necessary and take a small sample for testing.

You do not have to have acid reflux to develop Barrett?s Esophagus, but people with acid reflux are up to five times more likely to develop it than people who do not have acid reflux disease, and the chance of developing this fatal cancer increase up to one hundred and fifty percent over a person who does not have acid reflux disease.

Another problem that a person with acid reflux disease faces is called erosive esophagitis. Although this is a painful disease, it can be treated. Erosive esophagitis is when the acid from the stomach travel back up to the esophagus and causes irritation. This condition is a common for those who have acid reflux disease.

The symptoms of erosive esophagitis can range from a burning sensation to lesion. Tests for erosive esophagitis include an endoscopy or a barium swallow. This is when the person afflicted swallows a chemical dye in order for the doctor to take x-rays of the esophagus.

Erosive esophagus can cause dehydration and malnutrition because the person afflicted cannot eat or drink anything because of the pain swallowing causes. It is critical to seek medical attention immediately at the first sign of discomfort. Erosive esophagitis can be easily treated with medication that reduces the amount of acid in the stomach.

If acid reflux disease is not treated, it can cause serious complications. When you make lifestyle and dietary changes and take the medication that is prescribed, you are taking the proper steps to avoid serious complication that are associated with acid reflux disease.

Jill Seimer reports on health matters at RefluxLife.com and reported on natural healing for heartburn from her experience with alternative medicine