Chronic heartburn does not usually get much respect. But what if someone
told you that chronic heartburn can lead to a condition that greatly
increases your risk of esophageal cancer?
To understand how this
happens, you have to understand what heartburn really is. This painful
burning sensation, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs
when digestive acids in the stomach travel backwards up the esophagus.
While the lining of your stomach is made up of special tissue that can resist
the corrosive effects of these acids, your esophagus isn't normally equipped
with this special lining. So, when stomach acids slip past the
valve that's supposed to keep them down in your stomach, you can feel the
acids burning the inside of your esophagus--that's heartburn.
When
this happens repeatedly, the tissue lining your esophagus can actually begin
to change. In a condition called Barrett's esophagus, exposure to stomach
acids causes the lining of the esophagus to change into the same type
of tissue that lines the stomach. Strange-sounding by itself, this can
also be dangerous because people with Barrett's esophagus have an increased
chance of getting esophageal cancer.
If you have chronic
heartburn, see your doctor. There are steps that can be taken to bring
relief. Besides drugs, there are simple dietary changes that can reduce acid
reflux. Losing weight can sometimes help, and so can eating smaller meals.
