Barrett's Esophagus

Welcome to Barrett’s Esophagus! While you may not have heard much about this condition, you really should learn more about how to identify Barrett’s Esophagus Symptoms as more and more people are suffering from this ailment without realizing it. And if not treated, the consequences can be severe. With this website, I hope to spread greater awareness and understanding of Barrett’s Esophagus, barrett’s esophagus symptoms and related conditions which may lead to it.

Barrett’s Esophagus and My Father

After my father was diagnosed with it, I scoured the Internet to learn as much as I could about Barrett’s Esophagus. I learned that as many as millions go undiagnosed and untreated until it is too late. So this site will represent the culmination of my studies presented in a comprehensive yet accessible manner. While it may sound like a bold ambition, I hope this site will change hundreds if not thousands of lives for the better.

It is important to determine whether you’re experiencing stomach cancer symptoms, stomach ulcer symptoms, GERD Symptoms (like heartburn) or Barrett’s Esophagus symptoms. While they can overlap both in symptoms and in their core medical origins, assuming your symptoms fulfill one diagnosis and not investigating the other ailments can be dangerous.

It is also important to recognize and appreciate how even if you are diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus, you can still live a long and healthy life, so don’t become despondent. In fact knowing you have Barrett’s esophagus and getting regular check ups to monitor it can help you avoid developing other Barrett’s esophagus related conditions including esophageal cancer.

Family History And The Gender Gap

Although doctors don’t yet know why, men appear to be three times more likely to develop Barrett’s Esophagus than women. It is also a disease which seems to have genetic traces, so if a family member experiences cancer of any part of the digestion system, you should let your doctor know.

The Relation Between Barrett’s Esophagus And GERD

If you experience consistent and long-lasting GERD symptoms, you should consider discussing Barrett’s Esophagus with your physician. With gastric reflux — formally known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (hence, G.E.R.D.) — liquid from your stomach regurgitates into your lower esophagus, leaving a wash of acid to damage the lining of your esophagus. This regular exposure to stomach acid in time leads to the development of mutant, intestinal-like tissue in the esophagus. This occurring over time is precisely what researchers believe leads to Barrett’s Esophagus… and in time can lead to esophageal cancer.

New research discussed in Science Daily, however, discusses a slightly different possible cause of Barrett’s esophagus. Some researchers suspect this esophageal condition may be caused by previously overlooked leftover embryonic cells that sit in the junction between the stomach and the esophagus. Regular exposure to stomach acid, caused by GERD or chronic heartburn, damages the esophagus, giving these cells a chance to take over and cause problems.

Since Barrett’s Esophagus is a known precursor to esophageal cancer (or esophageal adenocarcinoma) — which is a very difficult cancer to fight if not treated early enough — you need to take any family or diet risks you’ve developed very seriously.

Barrett’s Esophagus Symptoms

Many people who have Barrett’s esophagus don’t exhibit any signs or symptoms. But the most common symptoms of Barrett’s esophagus are similar to the signs and symptoms of acid reflux. They can include:

• Frequent bouts of heartburn
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Chest pain
• Trouble swallowing
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Feeling like something is stuck in the throat

History of Barrett’s Esophagus

Barrett’s Esophagus is named for Dr. Norman Barrett, an Australian-born British surgeon who first defined and described Barrett’s Esophagus in 1957.

Do not try diagnosing Barrett’s Esophagus on your own. While it is reasonable to begin some basic treatment of heartburn, proper and accurate diagnosis requires viewing the esophagus internally with an endoscope and extracting a sample of the esophagus tissue to examine it for Barrett’s esophagus. This procedure is called an esophagoscopy with biopsy, or if you like really big words, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

I hope my site helps people realize the importance of treating gastric reflux (GERD) symptoms early and receiving a proper medical diagnosis to avoid developing these serious, life-threatening conditions. Join me on my quest to inform people about Barrett’s Esophagus and help prevent its untreated development.

Thank you for visiting, please return again soon as I grow and refine my website… and please, take care of yourself!
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Tags: Barrett's Esophagus, barrett's esophagus symptoms, esophageal cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD Symptoms, stomach cancer symptoms, stomach ulcer symptoms

If you have been suffering from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) for a number of years, you might be concerned that you will develop Barrett’s Esophagus, and with good reason. Barrett’s Esophagus is often a natural progression from chronic or long-term GERD. While there are not always noticeable symptoms when a person develops Barrett’s esophagus the most common symptoms of Barrett’s esophagus are similar to the symptoms of GERD, but there can be some additional symptoms. The tricky thing is that sometimes there aren’t any noticeable symptoms.

The most important thing to do if you feel you are experiencing Barrett’s Esophagus symptoms is to get a positive diagnosis from your doctor. The reason for this is that there is an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer if you have Barrett’s esophagus so you need to keep an eye on it. Regular screenings can help prevent esophageal cancer, which is important because esophageal cancer is difficult to treat once it develops. [...]

Continue Reading: Barrett’s Esophagus Symptoms

So you always understood that wine and acid reflux just aren’t supposed to mix, right? Well, some recent research may suggest otherwise.

As many wine lovers who also suffer from acid reflux will attest, alcoholic beverages aren’t the easiest on the stomach. The phrase wine acid reflux is almost a term in itself; the combination of alcohol and the acidity of the wine make for an uncomfortable team for your esophagus and your stomach to combat.

In recent years, researched have accumulated evidence to indicate that wine — especially red wine — contains a plethora of illness-fighting compounds. This doesn’t change the many poor affects of drinking alcohol, unfortunately, but has given both researchers and wine lovers cause for pause. How can we leverage those healthful properties without harming ourselves? [...]

Continue Reading: Wine and Acid Reflux

Before talking about heartburn home remedies, it its important to first understand a little bit about heartburn and what causes heartburn. It is also good to understand more about some of the other health conditions related to heartburn like Barrett’s Esophagus.

Heartburn can be caused by a few different things, so certain home remedies for heartburn that may treat one cause may not be the best choice for another cause. It is often best to try a few different remedies or a combination of remedies to get the best results. One simple thing you can try is gum. Chewing gum after eating can help your body produce more saliva, which will help to dilute those stomach acids that are causing the heartburn.

If you already have heartburn you will want to find an effective remedy to get relief, but sometimes prevention is the best heartburn home remedy. By following a few basic tips you can help reduce your chances of developing heartburn in the first place so you don’t have to suffer from those unpleasant heartburn symptoms. Three keys are to watch what you eat, watch when you eat and how much you eat.

If you suffer from acid reflux on a regular basis, it is something you should talk to your doctor about because it may lead to another health condition. Frequent heartburn or GERD symptoms can cause damage along the esophagus and sometimes lead to Barrett’s Esophagus. [...]

Continue Reading: Heartburn Home Remedies

While I don’t mean to frighten you, I do suggest seeking medical advice if you persistently experience these symptoms. Often times, people relate these symptoms to stress and treat them casually with antacids or H-2 blockers.

The problem is you might experience some short-lived relief with these treatments, but you may also mask the symptoms to a degree where you delay a physician’s ability to identify genuine stomach cancer symptoms and diagnose the cancer early enough to treat it successfully. [...]

Continue Reading: Stomach Cancer Symptoms