Health Alert: Regular heartburn might mean something serious, doctor warns

Heartburn is that burning feeling in your chest caused by stomach acid coming back up into the food pipe. It is a common problem for many.

This happens when stomach contents flow back into the food pipe, often giving a burning feeling behind the breastbone or a sour taste in the mouth.

While having heartburn now and then is usually not a big deal, having it often can mean you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or GORD). This condition happens when acid reflux happens too often and leads to troubling symptoms or problems.

Owen Woghiren, a consultant gastroenterologist, told PT Health Watch that having heartburn every now and then does not always mean you have GERD.

"Someone can occasionally experience heartburn without necessarily having GERD," he said.

But he advised those who have frequent, severe symptoms or those that come back when they stop taking medicine to see a doctor instead of just self-medicating.

When to take heartburn seriously

Mr Woghiren said that people with ongoing heartburn should watch for signs that might show complications or other health issues.

These signs include trouble or pain when swallowing, feeling like food is stuck, constant vomiting, bleeding in the stomach, black stools, unexplained weight loss, low blood count, and ongoing chest pain.

Any major change in regular symptoms should also make you see a doctor, he said.

He warned against thinking that every burning feeling in the chest is from acid reflux.

"New or severe chest pain, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, or pain going to the arm or jaw, needs urgent attention because heart pain can sometimes feel like indigestion," he said.

What causes heartburn?

Mr Woghiren mentioned that people should not label specific Nigerian foods as being bad for everyone because what triggers reflux can be different for each person.

However, big meals and spicy, fatty, or fried foods can make symptoms worse for some. He pointed out that heavily oiled stews, chili for sensitive people, alcohol, fizzy drinks, and sometimes coffee can be triggers.

When you eat and the size of your meals also matter.

"A common problem is eating a very large meal late in the evening and going to bed shortly afterwards," he said.

He explained that lying down with a full stomach allows stomach contents to flow back into the food pipe more easily. Regular overeating and gaining weight, especially in the belly, can also make reflux worse.

So, people with frequent heartburn should find their own triggers, cut down on foods that make them feel bad, and choose smaller portions.

Long-term effects of ongoing reflux

Frequent exposure of the food pipe to stomach acid can cause inflammation known as reflux oesophagitis.

Mr Woghiren said that severe cases can lead to ulcers, bleeding, or scarring and narrowing of the food pipe, making it hard to swallow.

He also made it clear that acid reflux is not the same as peptic ulcers.

Peptic ulcers affect the stomach or duodenum and are more linked to Helicobacter pylori infection or long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Chronic reflux can also cause Barrett’s oesophagus, where the lining of the food pipe changes, raising the risk of food pipe cancer.

Mr Woghiren said this should not create unnecessary fear as most people with heartburn will not develop cancer.

He explained that the real concern is that ongoing reflux should be properly checked instead of being treated with medicine for years without knowing why.

Changes to help manage symptoms

Making some changes to how you eat and your daily life can help manage reflux symptoms.

Mr Woghiren suggested that people avoid big meals close to bedtime and wait about three hours after eating before lying down.

Those who often have symptoms at night might find it helpful to raise the head of their bed.

Keeping a healthy weight, especially reducing excess belly weight, can also help. He advised cutting down on smoking and drinking too much alcohol and paying attention to stress, which can affect eating and sleeping and increase sensitivity to digestive problems.

Mr Woghiren said people should see a doctor if they often rely on medicine to control their symptoms.

"While occasional heartburn is very common, you should not ignore ongoing symptoms," he said.

He advised anyone taking heartburn medicine for weeks or months to talk to a doctor to find out what is really causing it.