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.
Read Barrett’s Esophagus Symptoms
More and more people are suffering from Barrett’s Esophagus every year, but the sad thing is that many people may not even know it. The symptoms of Barrett’s Esophagus are minimal for some people so they may not realize they have a problem, or they may think they just have a simple problem with heartburn.
People who have chronic heartburn or GERD symptoms should talk about this with their doctor so they can be treated and screened for Barrett’s Esophagus occasionally.
It is important to know if you have Barrett’s Esophagus because this condition can lead to other, more serious conditions like esophageal cancer. Knowing you need to be screened for this is an important way to prevent this type of cancer. This is vital because esophageal cancer is much easier to prevent than it is to treat once it has developed.
Know the signs and symptoms of Barrett’s Esophagus versus stomach ulcer symptoms or stomach cancer symptoms. Some of the symptoms overlap and some people will experience slightly different symptoms.
Besides understanding the symptoms it is good to know what you can do to help prevent these conditions.
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