Recurrent heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), no matter how amusing the old Alka Seltzer "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" commercials may have been, is no laughing matter. Everyone gets an occasional case of discomfort from "eating the whole thing", but if heartburn bothers you at night or occurs repeatedly during the day, it is a good idea to have a physician monitor the situation.
A burning sensation in the center of the chest, throat area or upper stomach area that wakes you up at night or even reflux of food or stomach acid into the throat, mouth, or even nose, characterizes GERD. 50 million Americans suffer from this illness which affects enjoyment of life and even productivity on the job. But it can be much more serious than that. Stomach acid intruding in the esophageal area can create changes in the cells of the lining of the esophagus that can lead to cancer. The stomach cells are designed to accommodate this acid but the esophagus is not. The cells of the esophagus may change their nature and become pre-cancerous, a condition known as Barrett's syndrome. Bleeding or ulcers can develop in the esophagus and scarring from the inflammation may narrow the esophagus, causing food to get stuck. So it is important to treat the symptoms with a doctor's advice.
Changes in lifestyle and diet will be recommended. Eating smaller portions, eating less sweets and carbohydrates, drinking less caffeine, ceasing smoking, cutting back on alcohol consumption, and managing stress can all appease the fire. Ceasing eating or drinking a couple hours before bedtime, even after 6:00, will help considerably. Elevating the head of the bed or sleeping on stacked pillows may also help. There are several very effective prescription medications available which inhibit formation of excess stomach acid. Also how you sleep may affect whether or not you get heartburn. Snoozing on your left side is less likely to let stomach acid back up into the esophagus.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicating that people who experience nighttime heartburn symptoms are 11 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those who do not should give the sufferer good reason to seek a physician's monitoring of the GERD situation.
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