A burning problem that can get out of control
Heartburn is a common—and highly treatable—condition, but I've seen too many of my patients ignore it. If you're not taking your heartburn seriously, you could be jeopardizing your health.
Frequent heartburn could signal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can erode the lining of your esophagus. This can result in a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which may lead to cancer.
If you've been ignoring your heartburn symptoms, unfortunately, you're not alone. From 1998 to 2005, the number of hospitalizations doubled for all reflux-related esophageal disorders. Worse, researchers estimate that cases of esophageal cancer have increased six-fold in just 20 years. And even though esophageal cancer is a slow grower, the statistics are grim: only about one in five patients survives for five years.
The only thing that might be worse than the prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer is the treatment. Any time they hear "cancer," docs start sharpening their scalpels. There are many treatment options for esophageal cancer, but surgery is very common and very painful.
But what if I told you might be able to avoid all this just by paying more attention to early symptoms and making some dietary changes?
As you might suspect, one of the greatest causes of esophageal problems is our substandard "Standard American Diet," which should be renamed "Public Enemy #1."
If you suffer from GERD-like symptoms, take a look at your diet. Some common triggers include caffeine, chocolate, pungent spices, hot peppers, tomatoes and alcohol. Junk food, whether it comes in a coffee cup or in a Hershey's wrapper, may be wreaking havoc on your digestive system.
But whatever the underlying cause, don't ignore your symptoms. Again, GERD is highly treatable—without a prescription.
The May issue of Health Revelations (www.healthrevelations.com) reveals ways to break free of GERD medications in a matter of months. If you're a subscriber, your issue should be in your mailbox any day now.
