You’ve most likely experienced heartburn before. It’s incredibly common! Each year, in fact, about 60 million Americans experience heartburn according to one study. Depending on your diet, heartburn will present a mild to moderate level of distress for the majority of people.
But heartburn can be a much bigger issue for some individuals. Sadly, heartburn symptoms are more persistent and sometimes even chronic for these people. It can be tempting to ignore or self treat chronic heartburn because heartburn is usually a fairly routine healthcare concern.
And that’s a problem. Much more serious medical problems can happen if persistent heartburn is left untreated. If you want to find chronic heartburn relief, you’ll want to schedule an appointment to see your doctor.
What causes persistent heartburn?
Your stomach is full of acid. It’s okay, though! This acid doesn’t hurt you, in fact, it aids in digestion, helping to break down food (making it easier to digest). For the most part, this stomach acid will never bother you. There’s a valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter (more commonly referred to as the esophagus) that keeps the stomach acids in check. This is typically a one way valve allowing food to pass through on its way down but preventing it from coming back up.
When a little bit of this stomach acid finds its way back up past the esophagus you experience heartburn. When acid goes back up past the esophagus it’s known as acid reflux. For the majority of people, heartburn happens after eating particularly greasy, spicy, or heavy food. When that’s the case, your heartburn will normally clear up after a short while.
But what if you’re becoming concerned about when or if your heartburn will go away? Well, when that heartburn doesn’t clear up, for instance, if you experience heartburn at least twice a week (every week), you might have persistent or chronic heartburn. When that’s the situation it’s probably worth making an appointment with your doctor.
Other health concerns can cause and be caused by heartburn
So, is persistent heartburn hazardous? Well, the answer to that question is complex. It’s more correct to think of heartburn as a symptom. Both the symptoms and the base causes of heartburn can trigger dangerous health complications.
It’s most likely time to get to an ENT if you’re dealing with chronic heartburn. Some of the most common problems associated with heartburn include the following:
- Issues with your mouth: You can get lesions and sores in your mouth, as well as bad breath, from chronic heartburn.
- Esophagitis: When your esophagus becomes severely swollen, it’s known as esophagitis. This severe inflammation can itself cause significant pain and discomfort, trouble swallowing, and other problems.
- Barrett’s Esophagus: When regularly exposed to stomach acid (as happens with chronic heartburn), the lining of the lower esophagus becomes damaged. Over time, this results in a condition called Barrett’s Esophagus. This condition increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer in the future, so close monitoring could be necessary.
- Esophageal ulcers: Ulcers of the esophagus are fairly unusual, but they can be serious when they happen. A hole or sore can form over time from repeated exposure to stomach acid. Scarring and narrowing of the esophagus can cause swallowing to become hazardous amongst other substantial complications. Ulcers can also bleed. If you suspect you might have ulcers or have persistent heartburn, arrange an appointment with us right away because ulcers should be addressed promptly.
The primary cause of heartburn is a condition called GERD
When we’re discussing reflux and heartburn, a condition known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) needs to also be mentioned. GERD is normally the cause of most cases of persistent heartburn and reflux.
When the valve that keeps stomach acid from refluxing up past the esophagus begins to fail or completely fails, GERD is the consequence. This scenario will cause stomach acid and undigested food to get up into places it shouldn’t be. How can I tell if I have GERD? Well, symptoms of GERD include but are not limited to:
- Trouble sleeping.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Chronic heartburn.
- Regurgitation of food (especially when you lay down).
There are usually a few ways that GERD is dealt with. In some cases, medication can help regulate and minimize excess stomach acid production. For more serious cases, surgery can help repair or strengthen the failing valve (sometimes all it takes is a little magnetic clamp).
Significant complications can result from untreated chronic reflux and surgery can help bring those symptoms under control. That’s why it’s important to contact us if you think you have GERD.
We can help you regulate your symptoms
Everyone gets a little heartburn now and again, and if they have an especially demanding diet that’s even more relevant. But you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of chronic heartburn. Doing so can lead to more significant issues down the road. You’ll have the chance to discuss your heartburn intensity when you talk to your doctor.
Heartburn symptoms can usually be successfully managed and mitigated, which means you can find peace again! Calling us for a consultation is the first step!
References
https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/heartburn-what-you-need-to-know