Disease (GERD)
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- What is GERD?
- Symptoms of GERD
- Causes of GERD
- Prevention of GERD
- Risk factors for GERD
- Complications of GERD
- When to see a doctor about GERD
- Diagnosis of GERD
- Conventional treatment of GERD
- Alternative/complementary treatment of GERD
- Living with GERD
- Caring for someone with GERD
Complications of gastro-eosophageal reflux disease (GERD)
There are a number of complications of gastro-eosophageal reflux disease (GERD), some of which are mostly rare, but can occur if symptoms continue unabated and very long term without proper treatment to heal the damage of the eosphagus.
Barrette's eosophagus
This is a condition which is defined when there are changes in the cells that line the part of the eosophagus which is closest to the stomach. These changes in the cells of the eosophagus are thought to lead to eosophageal cancer.
This condition is normally diagnosed when an endoscopy is performed and a biopsy is taken, although many people with Barrette's eosophagus do not know they have it. Follow-up endoscopy is recommended on a regular basis for people who have Barrette's eosophagus (every five year).
Cough and/or asthma
Gastro-eosophageal reflux disease (GERD) is irritating to the eosophagus and this causes a coughing reflex in many people. In more susceptible people, it can even trigger asthma symptoms due to the irritation it causes.
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Sore throat and/or pneumonia
If any of the liquid from the stomach rises out through the eosophageal sphincter, up through the eosophagus and into the throat (pharynx) it can cause inflammation to the throat that can make it sore (due to the acidic nature of the liquid).
A sore throat is not the only complication of the refluxed liquid. If any of it rises high enough and passes through the larynx it can enter the lungs, which can infect the lungs severely enough to cause pneumonia, which is a serious infection of the lungs that needs urgent medical intervention.
Strictures
Prolonged and repeated reflux into the eosophagus can damage the cells of the eosophagus and cause scar tissue (or stricture) to form. Strictures can be a serious complication of this condition when food particles get lodged and this can cause choking. While strictures are a very rare complication of gastro-eosophageal reflux disease (GERD), they do occur in a small percentage of people with this condition.
Adenocarcinoma
While it is quite rare, there is a cancer which can occur in people with gastro-eosophageal reflux disease (GERD), especially those who have Barrette's eosophagus. This type of cancer occurs in the area where the stomach and eosophagus meet.
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