Beware of Heartburn

A condition called Barrett’s oesophagus that results heart burn. This is where repeated exposure to stomach acid causes changes in the lining of the eosophagus (gullet) that can lead to cancer.

This condition follows the rule of 10s, which means one in 10 of the population has problems with heartburn (Britain), and will develop Barrett’s, and will go on to develop cancer of the eosophagus.

This abnormality that responsible for heart burn is a malfunction of the valve where the gullet joins the stomach – a problem that is particularly common in the obese and in people over the age of 35.

The stomach has a layer of slime that protects it against its own digestive juice, which are as strong as battery acid. But the eosophagus does not have such defense mechanism and if acid travels back through the defective valve (reflux) then it burns the delicate gullet lining, causing the characteristic symptoms of heartburn.

Reflux can happen without any symptoms but not for middle-aged man and women where they will experience discomfort behind his or her breast bone, oftn worse after meals or when lying flat in bed.

Barrett’s oesophagus is probably a defense mechanism and are thought to be the gullet’s attempt to protect itself. While the new lining may be more resistant to acid and it is also more likely to turn cancerous.

Cases

8000 cases of eosophagus cancer diagnosed in Britain every year, 70% will cause death within a year of diagnosis. This is due transition form Barrett’s to cancer is slow.

Test and Diagnosis

Currently, the only way to diagnose it is to do an endoscopy and directly visualize and biopsy suspicious looking areas. However, this method is not practical to everyone.

The Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge came up with a test known as the Sponge Test. This method is to swallow a capsule attached to a piece of string. After a few minutes the capsule dissolves to release a small sponge which can then be withdrawn and tested for the molecular features associated with Barrett’s. However, this test is still on trial.