Frequent heartburn may be a warning sign of a more dangerous condition, doctor says

Gut health specialist warns of link between acid reflux and cancer Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a gut health specialist in Naples, Florida, speaks with Fox News Digital about when acid reflux can lead to more dangerous medical conditions, and how to prevent damage. For most people, heartburn is an occasional annoyance and source of temporary discomfort. But for some, chronic heartburn can lead to more dangerous conditions - potentially even pre-cancerous ones. About 10% of people with chronic GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) will develop Barrett’s esophagus, a condition where the lining of the lower esophagus is replaced with abnormal cells that are more prone to cancer, according to medical experts. Some studies have shown that among those with Barrett’s esophagus, between 3% and 13% will go on to develop cancer , but most will not. POPULAR SLEEP POSITIONS COULD BE DAMAGING YOUR NERVES, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS When acid reflux becomes dangerous "Your stomach is designed to handle acid. Your esophagus is not," Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a Florida-based gut health specialist and certified nutritionist, told Fox News Digital. About 10% of people with chronic acid reflux will develop Barrett’s esophagus, a condition where the lining of the lower esophagus is replaced with abnormal cells that are more prone to cancer. (iStock) "With reflux, the danger is not the burn in the chest or throat - the real danger is the constant backflow of acid traveling the wrong way." In most people, the lower esophageal sphincter - which Gioffre refers to as the "acid gate" - keeps acid in the stomach, which is lined with thick mucus and specialized cells designed to protect it. "With reflux, the danger is not the burn in the chest or throat - the real danger is the constant backflow of acid traveling the wrong way." "But when the gate gets weak, it relaxes or stays slightly open, and acid slips back up the wrong way," he said. This "gate" can weaken with magnesium deficiency, high stress, alcohol, poor sleep , dehydration and late-night snacking, all of which can disrupt healthy digestion. When acid hits the esophagus, it irritates tissue that was never designed to withstand it, according to the doctor. "Every time acid comes back up the wrong way, it injures the lining like a slow chemical burn," said Gioffre, who is also the author of "Get Off Your Acid" and "Get Off Your Sugar." Over time, that irritation erodes the lining, drives inflammation and can change the cells. NOT ALL FIBER IS CREATED EQUAL - DOCTORS SHARE WHICH KINDS TRULY SUPPORT LONGEVITY "These new cells are no longer normal esophageal cells - they begin to shift into cells that look more like stomach lining, because those cells can tolerate the acid," the doctor said. "That change is called metaplasia, or Barrett’s esophagus." Once the cells start changing, the risk of further mutation goes up. If that process continues, Gioffre warned, it can progress to dysplasia, which is the stage right before esophageal cancer . Some studies...

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