The Dangers of GERD and Acid Reflux
Jul0
“Is acid reflux dangerous?”
There is a inclination for many people to think “Oh, it’s only heartburn. It’s no big deal.”
That approach may be OK in very mild cases but extremely dangerous for others. Here are some things to look for in deciding which category you’re in.
The first thing to pay attention to is the extent of pain and discomfort. While it’s not 100% true, more dangerous episodes of reflux do tend to cause more severe discomfort.
Next, consider the frequency of symptoms. If a person only has difficulty every several months, that’s very different from when symptoms come up every day.
Keep in mind that the symptoms of GERD result from stomach content backing up out the stomach where it belongs into the esophagus. The esophagus is injured by this acid. That damage can cause to very severe problems.
I don’t want to go into much detail here but if you’re interested you can learn more about the possible problems caused by GERD at: Complications of Acid Reflux.
Another symptom that should lead someone to seek medical treatment is if they have a respiratory problem associated with their acid reflux. These respiratory symptoms often include asthma, wheezing, coughing or recurrent colds and bronchitis.
The respiratory symptoms occur because it’s possible for the stomach acid to back up all the way to the upper esophagus where it can irritate the back of the throat and even go down the trachea. It’s clear that Obviously, having acid going into your windpipe might do some damage.
I think with any medical issue you should gather as much information as you can in addition to relying on your doctor.
A good site that I found for information on acid reflux is Treat Acid Reflux Now
You may particularly be interested in their page Is GERD Dangerous?
The main thing is not to assume that acid reflux is always minor problems that you should just live with. As always if you have any doubt it’s better to be safe than sorry and get a medical evaluation rather than ignoring symptoms.