Heartburn’s Hidden Effects
Prilosec OTC® is only intended to treat frequent heartburn. This page is provided for your information. Please speak with your doctor if you believe you are experiencing any of the related conditions described below. Learn more about Prilosec OTC.
For most people, the pain of a burning sensation in the chest that comes from heartburn is just an occasional, mild annoyance. You might be able to grit your teeth and learn to live with the discomfort of heartburn. But if you don't treat uncontrolled, frequent heartburn, you could end up with more serious complications:
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
Chronic, persistent heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD results from the improper working of the ring of muscle that normally keeps food and acids inside of the stomach. When it doesn't work correctly, it allows acids to back up into the esophagus. Other signs of GERD include: regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, coughing, hoarseness, and a lump feeling in your throat. In some instances, these ailments surface even when heartburn's usual symptoms are absent. This can lead doctors to misdiagnose and patients to misunderstand these conditions because people with ear, nose, and throat (ENT) complaints often do not have heartburn symptoms . If you think you may have this disease, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about having a diagnostic screening test.
Chest Pain
Chest pain from a severe heartburn episode can be mistaken for angina or a heart attack. In fact, the pain, which may radiate to the neck and/or shoulder, is often so difficult to distinguish from cardiovascular pain that sophisticated equipment is generally necessary to determine whether or not someone is having a heart attack. ENT complaints such as hoarseness, laryngitis, and chronic cough may result from repeated acid refluxHEARTBURN GLOSSARY
Acid reflux: The backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). during sleep.
The exact mechanisms through which heartburn causes non-cardiac chest pain, hoarseness, and laryngitis are unclear. However, heartburn has been shown to be the third most common cause of chronic cough. Heartburn is linked to lung and ENT conditions by the evidence of small amounts of acid in the upper esophagusHEARTBURN GLOSSARY
Esophagus:Tube connecting the mouth to the stomach; a passageway for food; part of the digestive system. and airway. When this acid repeatedly reaches the back of the throat and the larynx, it can cause damaging laryngitis and hoarseness.
Esophagitis
When stomach acids repeatedly back up into the esophagus, they can injure the stomach’s sensitive lining. That injury can lead to uncomfortable inflammation called esophagitis. Eventually, the acid wears away at the esophagus, causing bleeding. If the bleeding is heavy enough, blood can pass into the digestive tract and show up as dark, tarry stools. Esophagitis can cause ulcers–painful, open sores on the lining of the esophagus. In a small percentage of people, long-term acid exposure from GERD leads to a condition called Barrett's esophagus (BE). In BE, new cells form to take the place of those damaged by acid refluxHEARTBURN GLOSSARY
Acid reflux: The backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)..
Narrowing of the Esophagus
Damage to the esophagus over time also can produce scarring “strictures” that narrow the opening of the esophagus. These narrowed passages can make swallowing difficult and interfere with food and liquids getting into the stomach. As unpleasant as they can be, strictures actually have one upside: People who develop them find some relief from their heartburn. That's because the narrowing blocks acids from rising up into the esophagus.
Avoiding Complications
Before you worry that your heartburn is leading you down the road to more serious problems, you should know there are several treatments available. These treatments can both ease your heartburn and reduce your risk for complications. For many frequent heartburn sufferers, a change in lifestyle, learning to control stress and anxiety, and better eating habits may help decrease frequency.
Do not delay. Talk to your doctor today before possible health damage occurs.
