Can heartburn lead to something more serious?
For many people, heartburn is just a minor nuisance. However, some people with frequent heartburn or “warning signs” such as associated symptoms of food sticking, weight loss, or low blood count may have a disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. This represents a severe form of heartburn which may be associated with esophageal ulcers, esophageal bleeding, narrowing of the esophagus known as peptic stricture, and even a premalignant condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. Unfortunately, the severity of symptoms does not distinguish between heartburn or GERD. Therefore, patients with frequent symptoms or associated “warning signs” need to see their physician or gastroenterologist for a more thorough evaluation.
