If you suffer from acid reflux, you may be prone to simply treating it as an inconvenience, especially if it’s not particularly recurrent. However, if you’ve reached the point of chronic reflux, then what you’re really dealing with has something to do with GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease. And this severe escalation of acid reflux can have detrimental effects on your overall health if left untreated, ranging from esophageal ulcers to an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

This post isn’t intended to cause panic, and of course, stress is the last thing you want if you suffer from reflux as it’s a primary trigger! But the health concerns associated with untreated GERD are very real and if this is something you suffer from you need to be aware of how imperative it is to begin treatment.

When it comes to the escalation of GERD there’s a clear 5-step process:

1. Acid reflux: you start off with an incidence of acid reflux now and then, which can happen sporadically. Or if you’re unlucky, it can become chronic and start to damage your gastrointestinal tract, which is when we refer to it as GERD.
   
2. Esophagitis: your esophagus gets irritated by stomach acid and this causes it to swell and become inflamed. When you develop esophagitis, swallowing can become very painful and this is a key indicator that you’ve reached this stage.
   
3. Esophageal ulcers: people who suffer from GERD are very susceptible to ulcers and sores developing in their esophageal lining. If you have an ulcer you’ll experience symptoms such as nausea, chest pain, and painful swallowing. At this stage, it’s best to seek advice from a doctor to treat the ulcer as you get your GERD under control.
   
4. Esophageal stricture: when you’ve had GERD for an extended period of time it causes a buildup of scar tissue that narrows your esophagus. These narrow areas are referred to as “strictures” and they cause difficulties with swallowing foods/drink – often leading to dehydration and weight loss. Again, when strictures have developed it’s time to visit a medical professional.
   
5. Barrett’s Esophagus: up to 10% of GERD sufferers will develop Barrett’s Esophagus, which is a condition where the stomach acid causes precancerous changes in cells. When this is caught early, abnormal cells can be removed and only 1% of patients who have Barrett’s Esophagus will develop esophageal cancer, however having GERD does increase your risk.

If you experience symptoms of GERD such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, a burning sensation in your chest, regurgitation, or indigestion, it’s important to start making significant dietary and lifestyle changes to address and treat this condition ASAP, especially if you’re experiencing symptoms more than twice weekly. Natural treatments such as supplements that inhibit reflux and have a soothing effect on your gut can be very helpful in both treating and managing this disease. But if you’re in a great deal of discomfort then it’s important to see a physician to rule out any of the above complications of prolonged GERD.