Whether you call it acid reflux or heartburn, doctors warn that the condition could be causing a rise in cancers in the United States.
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, causing a “burning” sensation in the chest and throat, hoarse voice, or hiccups.
About 3 million Americans are diagnosed with reflux, but investigation suggests that more than 80 million people treat symptoms regularly and never consult a doctor about it.
This worries experts like Dr. Daniela Molena, a New York oncologist, because about one in 20 people with heartburn suffer cancer-related damage.
Heartburn affects 60 million Americans each month, but gastroenterologists warned it would develop into the precancerous condition of Barrett’s esophagus (file image).
In these patients, the constant flow of enzymes from the stomach into the throat irritates the cells of the esophagus.
Medically known as Barrett’s esophagus, this irritation can cause mutations that lead to tumor formation.
Dr. Daniela Molena, director of the Esophageal Surgery Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, said in a hospital blog post: ‘Barrett’s disease is a defense mechanism of the esophagus.’
“When the esophagus is bathed in acid all the time, it wants to protect itself, so the cells in its lining begin to change.
“These changes can progress to cancer.”
Acid reflux has also been linked to laryngeal cancer, a form of throat cancer that affects about 13,000 Americans and kills 4,000 each year.
Experts have noted that modern diets may be contributing to reflux becoming more common, as foods such as citrus, high-fat foods and fast foods can cause excessive levels of stomach acid, which damage the lining of the esophagus. over time.
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 22,000 new cases of esophageal cancer in the United States this year, along with 16,000 deaths.
Only one in five patients is expected to survive for five years, and that number can be reduced to one in 20 if the cancer is detected in later stages.
The condition has also seen an alarming increase in recent years. In 2022, a study found that rates of esophageal cancer in Florida adults ages 45 to 64 doubled between 2012 and 2017.
Additionally, Barrett’s esophagus cases saw a 50 percent increase between 2012 and 2019.
Experts have suggested that the increase could be due to rising levels of obesity in the United States, with four in 10 American adults considered obese. Extra fat is thought to tighten the stomach, causing excess acid and an increased risk of heartburn.
Dr. Mimi Canto, director of endoscopy at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said in a hospital blog post that while most patients with Barrett’s esophagus will not develop esophageal cancer, “given how deadly this cancer is, it is a condition that needs attention and treatment.”
‘It is not normal to have daily recurring heartburn. Diagnosing Barrett’s esophagus and treating it before it progresses is a scientifically proven way to prevent cancer.’
Barrett’s esophagus is diagnosed through endoscopy and biopsies. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering, patients with precancerous cells should undergo an endoscopy every three to five years to detect cancer.
It is usually treated with antacid medications and dietary changes.