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Can Heartburn Kill?

Friday, July 3rd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

“Is acid reflux really a serious problem?”

There is a inclination for many people to think “Oh, it’s just heartburn. It’s no big deal.”

That approach may be appropriate for some but extremely risky for others. Here are some things to look for in deciding which situation you’re in.

To begin pay attention to is the degree of the symptoms. Although it’s not a 100% correlation, more dangerous episodes of acid reflux are often associated with more severe symptoms.

Another important factor is how often the symptoms occur. If symptoms only occur twice a year, that’s less likely to be associated with complications than when symptoms are more frequent.

Remember that the Problems of of GERD are caused by acid backing up out the stomach where it belongs into the esophagus. The esophagus is injured by this acid. That damage can cause to rather significant problems.

I’m not going to list them here but I suggest you learn more about the possible complications of acid reflux at: Complications of Acid Reflux.

Another serious sign that indicates medical evaluation is needed is if they have a respiratory problem along with their GERD. These respiratory problems might include asthma, wheezing, coughing or frequent colds and episodes of bronchitis.

The respiratory symptoms come up because in some people of these reflux can be so severe the acid actually backs up all the way to the top of the esophagus and goes into the trachea. I think you’d agree that having acid going into your trachea can cause serious problems.

I think with any health issue it’s always a good idea to educate yourself as much as possible.

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 Gerd and reflux are just minor problems that don’t need further evaluation. Certainly if you have any of the issues I described here you should make an appointment with your doctor rather than ignoring symptoms.