Conclusion
As you can see, acid reflux can be a mild or very severe problem, depending on different factors. Stomach acid is beneficial for us. It contributes to digestion, and we don’t want our stomachs to stop producing acid. The problem is when physiology is altered, and the acid reaches the esophagus.
Acid reflux, gastritis, and other stomach problems are common but should not be neglected. Doing so leads to complications such as GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, peptic ulcer, stomach perforations, and peritonitis. Thus, trust your doctor instead of trying to solve the problem yourself. That’s definitely the best option to prevent more severe symptoms and their devastating consequences.
Acid reflux treatment should include lifestyle modifications and medications to control gastric acid secretion. They include antacids but also protein pump inhibitors. In some cases, patients may also need corrective antireflux surgery. In most cases, patients with GERD will control their symptoms with medications only. Only 20% of patients develop more advanced conditions, including Barrett’s esophagus. These patients need more specific treatment for their condition, and a proportion of them may also develop signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer.