Can
acid reflux cause damage to the esophagus?
Like
many other acid reflux sufferers you may wonder,
whether acid reflux can damage the
esophagus. Prior to discussing this topic,
let’s briefly go over the immediate physiological
causes of GERD.
Mild
and occasional heartburn is fairly common, but
more frequent heartburn or more severe symptoms
generally result in a diagnosis of acid reflux, or
gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Under
normal circumstances, food is kept in the stomach
by the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a group
of muscles that encircle the esophagus above the
stomach. The LES relaxes to allow food to enter
and then closes to keep the food in the stomach.
Heartburn results when the LES is unable to
prevent the contents of the stomach including
hydrochloric acid (HCL), digestive enzymes and
bile from escaping into the esophagus. Acid reflux
is a serious medical condition that results when
stomach contents including acid, bile, and enzymes
regularly regurgitate into the esophagus. The
stomach has a protective mucous lining but the
esophageal tissue gets eroded by the acid and
recurrent episodes lead to
"heartburn".
Chronic
acid reflux that is left untreated can cause
serious complications. Over
time,
acid
reflux can damage the esophagus.
Inflammation of the esophagus from refluxed
stomach acid can damage the lining and cause
bleeding or ulcers—also called esophagitis. These
can be painful and may also bleed, leading to
anemia. Occasionally, the bleeding may be so
severe as to require transfusions of blood or
surgical treatment Scars from this tissue damage
can lead to narrowing of the esophagus, called
strictures that make swallowing difficult. There
can be seen many nerves in the lower part of
esophagus. Some of these nerves are stimulated by
the refluxed acid causing pain or heartburn. Other
nerves stimulate yet other nerves to provoke
coughing.
Similarly,
reflux into the lower esophagus can stimulate
esophageal nerves that connect to and can
stimulate nerves going to the lungs. These nerves
to the lungs then can cause the smaller breathing
tubes to narrow, resulting in an attack of asthma.
Overall, acid reflux causes serious and at times
irreversible damage to the esophagus affecting the
quality of life of the patient. Acid reflux by
itself is not life threatening but over prolonged
period the acid can eat away not only the
esophageal tissue but the very life and happiness
of the patient.
Persons
with acid reflux and its complications, such as
damaged esophagus,
should be monitored closely by a physician to
prevent further complications. Ideally, a holistic
medicine practitioner is best suited to treat acid
reflux. As this is largely a lifestyle disease,
making a few changes in diet and living habits
along with losing weight, stress relief, and
meditation goes a long way in controlling the
disease without medications. Medications offer
only symptomatic relief and are effective for a
short period of time. Taken for a long time, they
have a lot of harmful side effects.
