Esophageal Cancer Causes
5. GERD
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition that can be quite painful for those that suffer from it. It is a result of either the lower esophageal sphincter not closing tightly (to prevent the backup of stomach acids into the esophagus), poor esophageal motility (to aid in the clearance of acids), or delayed emptying of the stomach. GERD occurs when any of these defense mechanisms fail and the lower esophagus is exposed to acid (above the normal limit) for prolonged periods.
Persistent acid reflux can cause symptoms like heartburn, sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation, difficulty to swallow (dysphagia), cough, among others. In addition to pain, the juices will also damage the lining of the esophagus. This damaged lining suffers adaptive changes over time, eventually progressing to precancerous lesions (Barret’s esophagus) than can transform into adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
Advertisement
