GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) Complications
As with any medical condition, there are potential complications which could make your problem more serious. That's why it's important if you think you are suffering unusually from the symptoms of acid reflux, or if you are experiencing any unexplained adverse symptoms that you immediately consult your doctor to deal with your condition and eradicate the possibility of developing complications. Don't hesitate and mess around in the hope things will miraculously get better, because if you do develop complications, they can be serious. With GERD, patients may find themselves suffering from ulcers, asthma, inflammation of the lungs and fluid in the ears.
So how can these complications occur? Well, when reflux reaches the oesophagus, the acidic properties can badly damage the oesophagus lining. This causes the oesophagus to become inflamed, and if the acid breaks through the lining wall further into the oesophagus, an ulcer will form. This is serious. Ulcers can cause bleeding within the oesophagus, and necessitate a blood transfusion or corrective surgery, so it's vital that you bring GERD to the attention of your doctor and undertake a suitable course of treatment.
Why is GERD or disease so painful? The answer lies in the high quantities of nerve endings in the lower oesophagus region, which can lead to pain when stimulated by reflux (this pain is commonly referred to as heartburn). Some other nerves when stimulated provoke coughing rather than pain, which doesn't need to occur in the throat. Similarly some nerves relate to the lungs, which means that the reflux can trigger asthma. Having said that, it is more likely that, rather than causing asthma, GERD will encourage attacks in those already suffering from the condition, making GERD potentially problematic for those with asthma, and a possible explanation for unidentifiable coughing.
If that isn't enough, the which triggers off your asthma can also cause infalmmation of your lungs, leading to breathing problems and an increased level of discomfort. As a result, it's advisable to check with your doctor straight away to avoid potential lung problems as a result of this chronic condition.
Next: the ear, throat and nose. These are all connected with a network of tubing. So reflux that happens to get up as far as the throat can result in inflammation of the adenoids, small bits of tissue joining the throat and nasal passages. This can cause a build up of fluid and pressure which can lead to great discomfort and pain, especially in children where the adenoids are more pronounced, rather than in adults where they have a reduced presence.
So GERD is no laughing matter. Although in most cases the initial disease and symptoms are not serious, with such a diverse range of potential complications, not to mention the initial discomfort from the condition itself, is a complaint that should concern anyone. We highly recommended that you speak with your doctor about your discomfort and explain why you think you might be suffering from GERD.
It's really important your doctor investigates the situation, and potentially offer some course of treatment for the condition to make sure these problems do not have the chance to develop. GERD is a chronic condition which can do a great deal of damage to your body if not treated effectively. You can keep the symptoms under control but the condition itself cannot be cured completely. So it's best to get some professional help before any further irretrievable damage is caused, even though non-medicinal treatment may be enough to alleviate your symptoms.
