Top 5 Symptoms of Barrett’s Esophagus

The Main Symptoms of Barrett’s Esophagus  That We Shouldn’t Ignore. What’s more, Barrett’s Esophagus is a condition where the cells that make up your esophagus begin to look like the cells that make up your intestines. This usually occurs when cells are damaged by exposure to stomach acid . This condition usually develops after years of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In some cases, Barrett’s Esophagus can develop into esophageal cancer.

Causes of Barrett’s Esophagus:  The exact cause of Barrett’s Esophagus is not yet known. However, the condition is more common in people with GERD. GERD occurs when the muscles at the bottom of the esophagus do not work properly. Weakened muscles will not stop food and acids from flowing back into the esophagus.

It is believed that cells in the esophagus can become abnormal with prolonged exposure to stomach acid . Barrett ‘s Esophagus can develop without GERD, but patients with GERD are 3 to 5 times more likely to develop Barrett’s Esophagus . Approximately 5 to 10 percent of people with GERD develop Barrett’s Esophagus . It affects men almost twice as often as women and is usually diagnosed after age 55.

Over time, cells in the esophageal lining can develop into precancerous cells. These cells can then develop into cancer cells. However, having Barrett’s Esophagus does not mean you will get cancer. It is estimated that only about 0.5 percent of people with Barrett’s Esophagus have cancer.

Symptoms of Barrett’s Esophagus: Barrett  ‘s Esophagus has no symptoms. However, since most people with this condition also have GERD, they will often experience frequent heartburn. Call your doctor right away if any of the following symptoms occur:

• with chest pain
• Vomiting blood or vomit that resembles coffee grounds
• having difficulty swallowing
• Passing black, demolished, or bloody stools

Barrett’s Esophagus  Risk Factors  : If you have had GERD symptoms for more than 10 years, you are at an increased risk of developing Barrett’s Esophagus . Other risk factors for developing Barrett’s Esophagus include:

• be a man
• be caucasian
• Over 50 years of age
• Having H pylori gastritis
• smoking
• be obese

Factors that worsen GERD can make Barrett’s Esophagus worse . These include:

• Smoke
• Alcohol
• Frequent use of NSAIDs or aspirin
• Eating large portions at meals
• Diets high in saturated fats
• spicy foods
• Going to sleep or lying down less than four hours after eating

Diagnosis of Barrett’s Esophagus:  If your doctor suspects you have Barrett’s Esophagus , they may order an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure that uses an endoscope, or a tube with a small camera, and lights it up. An endoscope allows your doctor to see inside your esophagus. Your doctor will check to see if your esophagus looks pink and shiny. People who have Barrett’s Esophagus often have an esophagus that looks red and velvety.

Your doctor may also take a tissue sample to allow them to understand the changes that are taking place in the esophagus. Your doctor will examine the tissue sample for dysplasia or abnormal cell development. The tissue sample will be classified based on the following degrees of change:

• No dysplasia: no visible cellular abnormalities
• Low-grade dysplasia: small amount of cellular abnormalities
• High-grade dysplasia: large number of cellular abnormalities and cells that can become cancerous

Barrett’s Esophagus Treatments:  One of the main goals of treatment is to prevent or delay the development of Barrett’s Esophagus by treating and controlling acid reflux. This is done with lifestyle changes and medication. Lifestyle changes include taking steps like:

• Make changes to your diet. Fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine, spicy foods, and mint can all exacerbate reflux.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks and tobacco.
• Lose weight. Excess weight increases the risk of reflux.
• Sleep with the head of the bed elevated. Sleeping with your head up can help prevent stomach acid from  flowing into your esophagus.
• Do not lie down for 3 hours after eating.
• Take all medicines with plenty of water.

The doctor may also prescribe medication to help. These medications can include:

• Proton pump inhibitors that reduce stomach acid production
• Antacids to neutralize stomach acid
• H2 blockers that decrease the release of stomach acid
• Promoting agents – drugs that speed up the movement of food from the stomach  to the intestines