Why Persistent Heartburn Can Cause Serious Damage To Your Health

If you suffer from heartburn at least twice a week and haven't sought medical advice you could seriously be putting your health in jeopardy. Persistent heartburn is a frustrating condition for many people in fact, in the US alone, staggering statistics suggest almost one sixth of the adult population suffer frequent attacks.

There are ways to lessen the incidence of symptoms but firstly, you need to take the first step and see your doctor.

Symptoms Of Persistent HeartburnPersistent heartburn means you are experiencing symptoms at least twice week and means something more sinister could be at play. Heartburn is a symptom of GERD and other tell tale signs include:

- difficulty swallowing- food traveling back into the mouth after swallowing

- burning chest pain

- coughing and sore throat

Obviously seeking medical advice is the best alternative because unchecked, more serious complications could arise.

Acid rising back into the esophageal can lead to serious damage overtime. Constant heartburn not treated could result in ulcers in the esophageal or stricture which means the esophageal narrows over time. Worst case scenario may be developing Barrett's esophagus which in turn could result to esophageal cancer.

Evaluating Persistent HeartburnIf you have tried over the counter medications and they are not having any effect, put your money back in your pocket and see your doctor. Before you make an appointment make a list of things you need to discuss. Here's a shortlist:

- Identify the triggers which correlate with your heartburn symptoms.

- Ask your doctor what changes you need to make. Talk about your lifestyle and the type of foods you eat.

- Are you a heavy coffee drinker or regularly drink certain types of alcohol? Are you a smoker?

- If you have tried lifestyle alterations then talk about what medications may be available. Are they safe for long term use and are they available by prescription only.

- If you are about to be prescribed medication ask your doctor if it will react with other medications.

Talk about how persistent your attacks are and the symptoms associated with them. Your symptoms may be different to another person. Most importantly, you need to tell your doctor how long you have been suffering constant heartburn attacks.

If this is your first visit and you have been putting off making an appointment, then your doctor may want to do some more thorough examinations to determine if there is something more serious going on. Persistent Heartburn ReliefIf you suffer constant heartburn and are loathe to talk to your doctor, consider the risks without proper medical advice. Self diagnosis can be a dangerous past time particularly if the treatment methods used only treat the symptoms. You have a number of medical medications available to you as apart from the common antacids, pump inhibitors and H2 blockers designed to prevent and neutralise acid production in the stomach, have proven effective. If your problem is a damaged esophagus then surgery options may need to be considered.