Study: Heartburn, Cancer Link
(As reported 3/18/99)
Every day, 19 million Americans suffer from heartburn. There is some new evidence that some heartburn can be more than just an annoyance.
A Swedish study in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine says chronic heartburn may cause cancer of the esophagus, reports CBS Health Contributor Dr. Bernadine Healy.
The esophagus, or the food pipe, goes into the stomach. At the bottom of the food pipe there is a valve that prevents the stomach acids from flowing into the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when there is something wrong with that valve, thereby allowing the acid to enter the esophagus.
The study showed that if that heartburn is intense enough, long enough and chronic enough, it could actually increase the chance of getting esophageal cancer by as much as 40 times.
That means heartburn should be taken seriously.
There are definite red flags in identifying chronic heartburn:
- Daily heartburn for at least 5 years
- Experience heartburn at night when lying down
- Antacids provide only temporary relief
A procedure called an endoscopy is used to diagnose the condition. During the 15-minute procedure, the doctor inserts a tube into the esophagus and the stomach in order to look for a change in the lining of the esophagus.
If there is something abnormal, the doctor can biopsy it.
If the condition is found in its pre-cancerous state, the irritation can be handled easily with medications and with monitoring.
Esophageal cancer is a bigger deal, and may require major surgery and possibly chemotherapy.
Here are some tips for preventing heartburn:
- Use antacids.
- Avoid drinking coffee, both regular and decaffeinated.
- Cut out alcohol.
- Don't smoke.
Some other tips:
- Don't eat big meals and don't eat meals fast. Having a lot of food in a hurry can overwhelm your stomach, which responds by producing extra digestive acids.
- Raise the head of your bed. Gravity helps contain the stomach's contents.
- Lose weight.