For many people, it’s normal to experience occasional acid reflux. It happens when the contents of your stomach go up into your esophagus, which is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
When acid reflux isn’t an everyday occurrence, your chances of experiencing any health complications are low.
But if you have acid reflux frequently, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes more symptoms and complications.
As acid reflux specialists, we at Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery want you to understand the warning signs that you need treatment. You can rely on our expertise to offer guidance on how to recognize the signs that you may have a medical concern that needs attention.
Fellowship-trained surgeon Dr. Aliu O. Sanni also wants you to understand what might happen if you ignore your symptoms.
Symptoms of frequent bouts of acid reflux you should watch for include:
If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, call our office to schedule an appointment with our professional medical team. Chances are, you need treatment to reduce your risk of further complications.
When you ignore persistent uncomfortable symptoms, you could be at risk for three conditions:
In addition, you can experience a blockage in your stomach or small bowel. Untreated acid reflux can also result in scarring in your esophagus, causing strictures, which are difficult to treat because additional acid damage occurs.
Most importantly, when you delay the management of acid reflux, you can develop a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. This condition can lead to esophageal cancer, which has limited treatment options.
That’s why we place high importance on controlling your acid reflux and understanding its complications early rather than later.
Before considering medication or surgical intervention, we look at your lifestyle, including your diet, weight range, and whether you smoke. From there, we may recommend certain modifications to your lifestyle to help control your acid reflux.
We may also prescribe medications to suppress acid, but they won’t necessarily prevent reflux.
For some of our patients, surgery may be the best option. Thanks to advanced technology, we have less invasive methods of surgery that offer effective results.
If your acid reflux occurs often and you experience uncomfortable symptoms, see our team in Snellville, Georgia, right away. Call, text, or click here to request an appointment.
