Knowing Whether Your Heartburn is GERD Can Prevent Serious Health Issues

For many of us, occasional heartburn can be a result of too many tacos on Taco Tuesday. But chronic heartburn can be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called GERD. 

Heartburn affects about 20 percent of the population and is on the rise, said Dr. Rameez Alasadi, an Interventional Gastroenterologist practicing at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. He explains the causes of heartburn and GERD, and when to see a doctor in a recent Silver Cross iMatter Health video podcast. 

Heartburn is caused when the acid in our stomachs flows back up through a sphincter connecting it with the esophagus, Dr. Alasadi said. That sphincter allows us to belch and vomit, he added. 

“We produce acid in our stomach, but we don't feel it,” he said. “The lining of the stomach is more acid-resistant and can handle acid for a long period of time. The esophageal lining is completely different. We can handle a little bit of acid going up into the esophagus, but acid is something that will irritate the lining of the esophagus and cause a burning sensation behind the chest bone. People will feel and describe it as a ‘heart burn.’” 

Is it Heartburn or GERD?

There are symptoms and tests to determine whether a person has normal heartburn, or signs of GERD, which can develop into more serious conditions, including cancer, if left untreated. 

Dr. Alasadi said a doctor can determine by the person’s history if they have heartburn or regurgitation, when food comes back into their esophagus, even to the point where it reaches the mouth. 

Those patients would be treated for a couple of months with acid-suppressing medicine, he said. Another option is an endoscopic procedure, a flexible tube that has a camera at the tip of it. 

Under light sedation, the doctor will pass a flexible tube through the mouth into the esophagus, looking for damages there. 

Dr. Alasadi said chronic sufferers should be aware of alarming signs, including feeling as though the swallowed food isn’t going all the way down, getting stuck in the esophagus. 

“Those sufferers should see a surgeon specializing in gastrointestinal surgery right away,” he said. 

Other serious signs are having a low blood count, vomiting blood, tarry stools and unintentional weight loss. Those also should be addressed with a specialist immediately, he said. 

Treatment Options

Those who have had reflux for many years, even if it’s controlled, may want to talk to a physician about different treatment options. 

“They may need to be screened for an underlying condition or precancerous condition that can develop from having reflux for a long period of time,” he said. 

There are no “one-size-fits-all” treatment options, Dr. Alasadi said. It depends on the diagnosis and severity. 

Over-the-county medications offer immediate, but temporary relief, he said. There are stronger medications that suppress and block the acid in the stomach. 

Since GERD is a mechanical problem, Dr. Alasadi said, the patient may be a candidate for surgery to repair or reconstruct the valve allowing the leak. That can be done through regular surgery, he added, or possibly, for a select group, endoscopically or laparoscopically. 

Dr. Alasadi said patients with chronic heartburn also can help themselves with some lifestyle changes: losing weight, avoiding late meals and snacks, minimizing caffeine intake, cigarette smoking, alcohol, citrus food, tomato-based food and peppermint, and those tempting late-night snacks before going to bed. 

“Remember, when people are sleeping and laying down, the esophagus and the stomach are in the same level. So, gravity is not their friend anymore.” 

To listen to Dr. Alasadi’s full podcast or watch his video podcast, “Is GERD The Same As Heartburn?” visit silvercross.org/imatter-health/ and select the IMatter Health PODCASTS link.