Acid Reflux can be a real pain. It is caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach and getting into the esophagus. Typically, you can cure acid reflux with a few lifestyle and diet changes, but some people might require surgery to fix the damage that has been done. In the entire Western part of the work, between 10 and 20 percent of the population is affected by acid reflux. If you have a diet that is heavy in coffee, alcohol, fatty foods, spicy foods or even chocolate, you could be a front runner for acid reflux.
If you ever feel the symptoms of acid reflux coming on, it could be as easy as changing what you are eating to get some relief. Some people rely on medication that they take so they can still eat what they want and enjoy life afterwards. According to reports online, acid reflux can also be a leading cause for the development of esophageal cancer. It also does not help the condition if you are suffering from obesity.
A study that was posted in the New England Journal of Medicine looked that latest risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis and the treatment for the two main types of esophageal cancer. This type of cancer is not common among younger patients, but as you get older the chances of getting it do increase. Most doctors agree that it does peak when you are 70 to 80 years old. The disease is also up to four times more common in men. The report showed that if a person experiences daily or weekly bouts of acid reflux, they have increased chances of esophageal cancer.
The published report also goes into how stomach obesity plays is a factor that increases the likelihood that you will the same esophageal cancer. If you are a prime candidate for this type of cancer, being obese and having regular acid reflux, then you should get checked out by a doctor because many times the damaged can be fixed before it gets into cancer mode.
A procedure called radiofrequency ablation can be used to prevent the progression of cancer if you have Barrett’s esophagus and have developed an abnormality called dysplasia. The procedure is safe and effective at removing the risk of cancer in more than 86 percent of the patients that have had the procedure done. If you are suffering from acid reflux and are overweight, you are in the top group for this type of esophageal cancer and you should have your throat area checked out as soon as you can. Symptoms can be as simple as a chronic sore throat.