Nov/090
Persistent Heartburn – Why Heartburn is More Serious Than You Think
If you are living with persistent heartburn, you may consider it to be only a mild irritation, barely above notice in your day to day life. Once you begin to feel the painful burning typically associated with acid reflux, you start thinking more and you begin to avoid the foods that cause heartburn.
No big deal, right? After all, what could possibly occur as a result of a little acid indigestion?
Our stomachs were made to be able to handle extremely high levels of acid. In fact, without such high levels, our bodies would not be able to properly digest the foods we eat into the nutrients and minerals we need in order to survive. The delicate lining of our esophagus, however, was never meant to be able to handle such harsh conditions.
If you experience acid indigestion more than once or twice at week, the acid from your stomach can actually begin to erode the lining of your esophagus. When this occurs this condition is known as erosive esophagitis. People that have esophagitis are much more likely to develop more serious conditions such as esophageal cancer or Barrett's esophagus.
Esophageal cancer is a particularly deadly form of cancer. Treatment is difficult and often results in the patient not being able to eat and swallow properly. Barrett's esophagus occurs when cells that typically are found in the intestines start to grow in the esophagus. Many people who develop Barrett's esophagus eventually develop esophageal cancer.
Living with persistent heartburn is not simply a minor inconvenience, but potentially a life altering disease. Taking over-the-counter, and even prescription drugs, merely mask the symptoms. As such, many people are turning to natural heartburn remedies with amazing results.
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