GERD Complications
As with any medical condition, there are potential complications which could add further weight to your problem. It is important if you think you are suffering from the symptoms of acid reflux, or if you are experiencing any unexplained adverse symptoms that you consult your doctor immediately to deal with your condition and eradicate the possibility of developing complications. With GERD, patients may find themselves suffering from ulcers, asthma, inflammation of the lungs and fluid in the ears.
When reflux reaches the oesophagus, the acidic properties can seriously damage the oesophagus lining. This causes the oesophagus to inflame, and if the acid breaks through this wall further into the oesophagus, this causes an ulcer to form. Ulcers can cause bleeding within the oesophagus, and necessitate a blood transfusion or corrective surgery, therefore it is imperative that GERD is brought to the attention of your physician and a suitable course of treatment is undertaken.
There are high quantities of nerve endings in the lower oesophagus region, which can lead to pain when stimulated by reflux (commonly referred to as heartburn). Some other nerves when stimulated provoke coughing rather than pain, which doesn't need to occur in the throat. Similarly some nerves relate to the lungs, which means that the reflux can trigger asthma. Having said that, it is more likely that, rather than causing asthma, GERD will encourage attacks in those already suffering from the condition, making GERD potentially problematic for those with asthma, and a possible explanation for unidentifiable coughing.
Similarly, the acid reflux which stimulates the triggers of asthma can also cause the lungs to inflame, which can lead to breathing problems and some level of discomfort. It is advisable to check with your doctor immediately to avoid potential lung problems as a result of this chronic condition.
The ear, throat and nose are all connected with a network of tubing. Reflux that happens to get as far as the throat can result in inflammation of the adenoids, small bits of tissue joining the throat and nasal passages. This can cause a build up of fluid and pressure which can lead to great discomfort and pain, and is largely seen in children where the adenoids are more pronounced, rather than in adults.
With such a diverse range of potential complications, not to mention the initial discomfort from the condition itself, acid reflux is a concerning complaint for any individual. It is highly recommended that you speak with your doctor about your discomfort and explain why you think you might be suffering from GERD. It is important for your doctor to investigate the situation, and potentially offer some course of treatment for the condition to ensure these problems do not have the chance to develop. GERD is a chronic condition which can do a great deal of damage to your body if not treated effectively. Although the symptoms can be kept under control the condition itself cannot be cured, and as such it is best to get some professional help before any further irretrievable damage is caused.
Acid reflux news on the Web
Precancerous Condition Associated With Reflux Disease Triggered By Bile - Not Acid
For many people with gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, acid reflux drugs are the answer to their woes, curbing the chronic heartburn and regurgitation of food or sour liquid characteristic of the disorder. But when it comes to Barrett's esophagus, a condition commonly found in people with GERD, acid control may be less important than beating back another bodily fluid - bile... |
New GERD Device Offered At Mayo Clinic
A new device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition that can lead to serious health problems, will soon be available at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. The device will be offered to patients taking medication for the condition, who continue to have chronic reflux symptoms. The device was approved to treat GERD (also known as acid reflux disease) on March 22 by the U.S... |
Acid Reflux 50% More Common Than Ten Years Ago
A long-term Norwegian study reveals the number of people who experience acid reflux at least once a week has gone up by nearly 50% in the last 10 years, with women appearing to be more susceptible to the condition than men... |
Prescribing Acid-Suppressing Drugs To Infants
Frequent spitting up, irritability, and unexplained crying in infants can be very distressing to parents. Pediatricians often prescribe acid-suppressing drugs for these symptoms in an effort to treat infants for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, GERD is an uncommon cause of these symptoms in otherwise thriving infants... |
Prescribing Of Acid-suppressing Medication For Infants Rises Considerably
Infants who are frequently spitting up, irritable, and cry for unknown reasons can be extremely worrying for parents. The infants are often prescribed with acid-suppressing drugs by their pediatricians in an attempt to treat them for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) but in otherwise thriving infants GERD is not a common cause of these symptoms... |
Acid-Suppressing Drugs Being Over Prescribed In Infants
Frequent spitting up, irritability and unexplained crying in infants are often very distressing to parents. Physicians frequently prescribe acid-suppressing drugs for these symptoms. However, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an uncommon cause of these symptoms in otherwise thriving infants, and in his Commentary published in the October 20th issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, Dr... |
GERD Treatments, Benefits And Risks - New Report
New plain-language reports compare the risks and benefits of therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive condition that affects millions of individuals in the U.S., and can be treated with medications or surgery. The reports are from the U.S... |
Proton Pump Inhibitors Should Have Black-box Warnings, Group Tell FDA
Withdrawal from PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) can lead to severe rebound acid secretion, a complication that can force users to become dependent on them - this should be mentioned in a black-box warning, consumer group Public Citizen has told the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)... |
Leftover Embryonic Cells Connect Gastric Reflux And Cancer
The ultimate source of some cancers is embryonic cells. Research published in the June 24th Cell, a Cell Press publication, traces the precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells found in all adults. Some people with gastric reflux disease have a greater risk of developing esophageal cancer... |
Homing In On Genetic Signature Of Esophageal Cancer
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have pinpointed two genes that are amplified in the worst cases of esophageal cancer, providing data to support a new investigational treatment that targets those same genes. The study, led by Tony Godfrey, Ph.D., a research associate professor of Surgery at the James P... |
News From The Annals Of Family Medicine, May/June
Acid-Suppressing Proton Pump Inhibitors Associated with Fracture Risk A meta-analysis of previous research into an unintended effect of acid suppression medications - some of the most widely used medications in the world - finds evidence that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, but not H2-receptor antagonists, is associated with increased risk of fracture... |
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