You’ve probably experienced heartburn before. It’s extremely common! In fact, one study revealed that somewhere around 60 million Americans experience heartburn every single year. Depending on your diet, heartburn will present a mild to moderate level of distress for most individuals.
But there are some individuals for whom heartburn is a far bigger problem. Sadly, heartburn symptoms are more persistent and sometimes even chronic for these individuals. Because heartburn is usually a fairly routine (and self-treatable) healthcare concern, it’s tempting to attempt to ignore chronic or persistent heartburn.
And that’s a problem. Persistent heartburn might be a sign of an underlying medical condition that, left untreated, can cause serious problems for you down the line. You’ll want to talk to your doctor to get relief from chronic heartburn.
What causes persistent heartburn?
Your stomach is full of acid. But that’s generally a good thing. This acid is digestive in nature and helps break down food you eat. Typically, this acid will never bother you. There’s a valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter (more commonly referred to as the esophagus) that keeps the stomach acids under control. This valve lets food down your esophagus but stops anything from coming back up. (Well, under normal conditions).
Heartburn happens when (for a variety of reasons) a little bit of this stomach acid finds its way up. This is also why heartburn is called acid reflux. For most people, heartburn happens after eating especially greasy, spicy, or heavy food. Your heartburn will normally clear up in a short while if it’s a dietary scenario.
But what if you’re left wondering, when will my heartburn go away? Well, if you’re dealing with heartburn twice a week or more, you may be dealing with chronic heartburn. The best strategy in situations like this is to talk to your doctor.
Other health problems can cause and be caused by heartburn
How much of a danger is persistent heartburn? Well, the answer to that question is complicated. It’s more correct to think of heartburn as a symptom. Both the symptoms and the base causes of heartburn can lead to severe health complications.
It’s probably time to go in to see an ENT if you’re coping with chronic heartburn. Here are a few of the most common health issues related to chronic heartburn:
- Issues with your mouth: Chronic heartburn and reflux can cause sores and lesions to form in your mouth along with bad breath.
- Esophageal ulcers: Though fairly common, esophageal ulcers can become pretty serious. A hole or sore can form over time from repeated exposure to stomach acid. Scarring and narrowing of the esophagus can cause swallowing to become hazardous amongst other substantial complications. Ulcers can also bleed. Esophageal ulcers require prompt treatment, so make sure to speak with us if you believe you might have them (or are having regular heartburn).
- Esophagitis: When your esophagus becomes severely swollen, it’s known as esophagitis. Issues with swallowing and extreme pain can be the result of this extreme inflammation.
- Barrett’s Esophagus: The lining of the lower esophagus can be compromised when constantly exposed to stomach acids from chronic heartburn. A condition called Barrett’s Esophagus can result over time. It’s essential to keep a close watch on this condition because it increases your long-term danger of developing esophageal cancer.
What causes chronic heartburn? It’s probably GERD
When we’re talking about reflux and heartburn, a condition known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) needs to also be mentioned. In most cases where people have chronic heartburn, GERD is the cause.
When the valve that keeps stomach acid from refluxing up past the esophagus starts to fail or entirely fails, GERD is the outcome. This scenario will cause stomach acid and undigested food to go up into places it shouldn’t be. If I had GERD, how would I know? Well, symptoms of GERD include but are not limited to:
- Regurgitation of food (especially when you lay down).
- Trouble swallowing.
- Chronic heartburn.
- Trouble sleeping.
GERD is usually treated in a number of different ways. In some cases, medication can help manage and minimize excess stomach acid production. For more severe cases, surgery can help repair or strengthen the failing valve (sometimes all it takes is a little magnetic clamp).
If you think you’re dealing with GERD, it’s essential to speak with us, as persistent heartburn and reflux can cause substantial complications, and successful treatment of GERD can help lessen those complications.
We can help you regulate your symptoms
Having heartburn every so often is completely normal (especially if your diet is particularly… intense). But you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of persistent heartburn. Doing so can lead to more substantial issues down the road. You’ll have the opportunity to talk about your heartburn intensity when you speak with your doctor.
It’s possible to get peace from heartburn with proven management strategies. Calling us for a consultation is the first step!
References
https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/heartburn-what-you-need-to-know