|  | Conditions Treatments | Heartburn GERD

Prognosis of Acid Reflux

Left untreated, acid reflux disease is damaging to the esophagus, as it causes erosive esophagitis (EE) when stomach acid gradually wears down the esophagus lining. Symptoms of the disease include heartburn, a tart or bitter taste and difficulty swallowing. Stomach upset, chest pain (not in conjunction to the heart and constant coughing) and hoarseness are other symptoms experienced with acid reflux.

  1. LES muscle

    • The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the mechanism between the esophagus and the stomach. Food is allowed to pass into the stomach unhindered; when functioning properly, the LES muscle blocks and prevents stomach acids and stomach content from traversing back up the esophagus (reflux). When the LES fails to function appropriately, reflux occurs.

    Damage

    • Reflux untreated will bring about erosive esophagitis, where the reflux has eroded or caused breaks in the esophagus. EE can become serious if left untreated and can cause bleeding, scarring, swallowing difficulties and other adverse conditions. The good thing is that people diagnosed with EE can reverse the damage. Your doctor is the only person able to accurately diagnose the severity of EE. Even people with mild heartburn can have damage inflicted to their esophagus.

    Food triggers

    • Acid reflux isn't the only cause of heartburn, however. Certain foods can trigger heartburn. For instance, consumption of spicy, fried, fatty or tomato-based foods may do it for some people. Juices and citric fruits cause unwanted heartburn symptoms as well. Onions, garlic, chocolate and mint flavorings are also on the heartburn list. Add to that caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea or alcohol and carbonated drinks.

    Other factors

    • Obesity, smoking, stress, eating too much during a meal or wearing restricting clothing around the abdomen can also cause heartburn discomfort. These are all habits, however, that can be changed by an individual without medication to avoid heartburn or reduce acid reflux disease if indeed you do have acid reflux. If you have tried changing your food habits to avoid the trigger foods and made some lifestyle changes and are still experiencing acid reflux symptoms two or more days a week, then you may very well have acid reflux (or GERD as some people refer to it).

    Treatment

    • There are various treatment options available, some of which you can get without prescription; however, the discussion should be had with your doctor about which treatment is the most effective for you. Antacids neutralize stomach acid, providing the necessary relief from occasional heartburn. But this is only a short-term remedy. H2 blockers reduce your stomach's acid production by blocking the signal needed to start acid secretion. Damage done to the esophagus from acid reflux can be healed with this type of treatment. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective treatment option in that some of the acid pumps in the acid-producing cells are shut off. Heartburn is relieved and healing is accomplished---this type of treatment requires a prescription.

Heartburn GERD - Related Articles