If heartburn medication has become part of your daily routine, but you’re still experiencing acid reflux, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
“Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not simply an uncomfortable sensation,” cautions Edward Hannoush, MD, a bariatric surgeon with Hartford HealthCare.
Instead, it’s a sign that an unhealthy amount of acid is moving up and down in the esophagus.
“Without proper treatment, GERD can have long-term health consequences,” he adds. “The good news is there are several ways we can help.”
Dr. Hannoush explains why treating GERD is so important and what can happen if you don’t.
GERD isn’t just heartburn.
Think of the path between your esophagus and stomach as a one-way street. If things are working right, your food and liquids should go down and stay there.
GERD is a U-turn. The stomach contents might go upwards into the esophagus, and you’ll feel that burn. While some reflux is normal, GERD happens when too much acid comes up.
In more severe GERD cases, you may experience regurgitation.
“This is where you’ll feel the bulk of fluid coming up into your esophagus,” says Dr. Hannoush. “It might happen in the middle of the night, and you may feel like what you just ate for dinner is coming up. It reflects a mechanical problem and is uncomfortable regardless of how acidic the fluid is.”
Untreated GERD may also cause:
- Esophagitis
- Esophageal ulcers
- Esophageal strictures
- Esophageal scar tissue
- Difficulty swallowing
> Related: Do I Have GERD or Acid Reflux? And Why The Difference Matters
Over time, GERD can cause long-term changes in your esophagus.
As more and more acid reflux occurs, the esophagus starts to suffer.
“The inside lining of the esophagus is not meant to handle acid from the stomach,” explains Dr. Hannoush. “But with all this repeated exposure to stomach acid, the body tries to adapt.”
This process is called Barrett’s esophagus, where the inner lining of the esophagus changes to mimic the stomach lining to handle the incoming acid.
Here are a few things to know about Barrett’s esophagus:
- It’s most often diagnosed in people with long-term GERD.
- It has different grades (non-dysplastic, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia).
- While it can be a precursor for cancer, the probability of diagnosis is rare.
- Your doctor will help guide you on an effective care plan.
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5 steps to treating GERD.
“If you have reflux, heartburn, regurgitation, or difficulty swallowing, see your gastroenterologist,” says Dr. Hannoush. “We can work together to develop a plan to help heal your esophagus.”
GERD treatment may include:
- Diet modifications and reducing trigger foods.
- Healthy lifestyle changes.
- Losing weight.
- Medication.
- Surgical interventions such as hiatal hernia repair and anti reflux surgery can be considered.
“Treating GERD is a holistic approach that starts with healthy living, weight management and eating right,” says Dr. Hannoush.
What if that doesn’t help?
“We can aim to control GERD symptoms by adding medications,” he answers. “If all of this isn’t working and it still progresses, we can perhaps consider surgery if it’s necessary to improve your quality of life.”