Complications of GERD:
Esophageal Cancer, Barrett's Esophagus, Sleep Apnea, Asthma
Complications of Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease include esophageal cancer, erosive esophagitis, and Barrett's esophagus. GERD also aggravates asthma and sleep apnea.
Left untreated, symptoms of GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease) can result in Barrett's esophagus and an increased risk of esophageal cancer, while other complications cause inflammation, ulcers, and breathing problems.
Barrett's esophagus is associated with long standing, or chronic, GERD. People with Barrett's esophagus are up to 125 times more likely to develop a rare esophageal cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Although rare, this type of esophageal cancer appears to be on the rise, especially in white males. The risk of a person with Barrett's esophagus developing esophageal cancer is approximately 0.5 percent a year.
Barrett's esophagus itself occurs when the esophageal lining changes. Barrett's esophagus tissue resembles intestinal tissue. People with GERD have five times the normal risk of developing Barrett's.
Unlike GERD, Barrett's esophagus has no symptoms. While sixty million Americans exhibit symptoms of GERD, only 700,000 have Barrett's esophagus.
Erosive Esophagitis
Erosive esophagitis occurs when portions of the esophagus become inflamed. Acid reflux is the most common cause of erosive esophagitis. Heartburn is the most common symptom of erosive esophagitis: the condition can also cause coughing, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing. Erosive esophagitis can also cause esophageal ulcers and bleeding.
GERD Complications and Swallowing Difficulties
GERD complications can cause swallowing difficulties. An esophageal stricture is caused by a build up of scar tissue due to chronic acid reflux. As scar tissue accumulates, the low esophageal canal narrows, increasing the risk of swallowing problems.
Asthma and GERD
Asthma symptoms and symptoms of GERD often appear together: seventy percent of asthmatics have GERD. Whether GERD causes asthma, or asthma causes GERD, is open to debate. One condition aggravates the other.
Acid reflux can result in stomach acid entering the airways, which results in coughing, shortness of breath, and other asthma symptoms. In turn, some asthma medications aggravate GERD symptoms. An asthma attack changes airway pressure, which may relax the esophageal sphincter, causing acid reflux.
GERD and Sleep
Nocturnal GERD is often associated with sleep disturbances, simply because symptoms of GERD are uncomfortable and awake people up. GERD symptoms tend to be more severe at night, as lying down allows more stomach acid to enter the esophagus.
There is speculation that obstructive sleep apnea and GERD are closely related. Sleep apnea occurs if the airways collapse during sleep, causing sleep disturbances. As with asthma, sleep apnea causes changes in airway pressure that could encourage esophageal sphincter relaxation.
Other researchers believe that acid reflux causes vocal cord spasms, resulting in sleep apnea. It may well be that, like asthma, sleep apnea and GERD aggravate each other. Obesity increases the risk for both conditions, so it is also possible the two diseases have the same trigger, but are otherwise unrelated.
Preventing GERD Complications
Many people dismiss GERD as heartburn, and significant time may pass between GERD onset and diagnosis. Damage caused by acid reflux during this time can result in GERD complications. Proper GERD treatment helps prevent GERD complications. Anyone who experiences heartburn on a regular basis should talk with their health provider about possible GERD.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
