What is Barrett's Esophagus? I had never heard of this health challenge until an acquaintance of mine mentioned that her husband, after going through a battery of medical tests, was told that he might have it.

There isn't a great deal of information on this condition, when compared to the body of health care info available on related conditions, GERD and Acid Reflux Disease.

I was suprised to learn, when I started researching it for my friend, that about 70,000 adults have Barrett's Esophagus. This information according to an FDA talk paper on Barrett's Esophagus

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Alternative Health Care Articles from the Wellness Library: Barrett's Esophagus

It can be a little confusing to determine where Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, stops and Barrett's Esophagus begins. For example, the same medications are sometimes prescribed for both conditions. Also, a person who develops Barrett's Esophagus first developed either GERD or acid reflux. So when does GERD birth this secondary health condition?

Over time, the acid which chronically backs up into the esophagus with both these conditions actually begins to change the esophageal lining. It is the chronic effect of stomach acids bathing the esophageal lining that changes it, even the color of it. Instead of the normal pink color associated with a healthy esophagus, the lining becomes a deeper color, often described as salmon-colored. This change is a result of the body attempting to protect the esophagus from stomach acids. Though the stomach can handle these acids and indeed some stomach acids are needed for proper digestive processes, the esophagus cannot handle them and attempts to protect by changing it's lining to resist further acid damage.

At this point, the person with GERD may be told they also have Barrett's Esophagus. The changed, damaged lining of the esophagus now may put the patient at risk for developing high grade dysplasia and could lead to esophageal cancer if left untreated. Most diagnosed with this type of cancer are over the age of 50, and male. Women can also get this condition but men are more likely to develop it.

What are the symptoms of Barrett's Esophagus

Though some with this condition do not exhibit symptoms at first, or may just think symptoms are because of GERD or acid reflux, one of the most common symptoms is persistent, chronic heartburn, that is heartburn that happens more than three times a week for an extended period of time. Other symptoms might include having difficulty swallowing, experiencing pain when trying to swallow.

Still others, and this was the case with the husband of my friend, feel their food is getting stuck when they try to swallow it. This choking feeling when trying to swallow food is a symptom that there may be a serious health problem in the esophagus and requires immediate testing and investigation.

Not everyone who develops this condition goes on to develop cancer. Testing includes determining the degree of dysplasia (or abnormality) to the damaged, irritated lining cells and those with high grade dysplasia are most at risk for having cancer.

Very serious symptoms may include vomiting blood or passing black-looking stool. If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical testing and evaluation immediately. If the esophagus is severely irritated, it can produce heartburn so severe that it might be mistaken for a heart attack.

Even though obesity is considered a risk factor in developing this condition, it is actually unexpected weight loss that may signal a warning about it. This is due to the discomfort experienced when trying to eat.

In cases where esophageal cancer has eaten through the esophagus and into the trachea, a person may experience coughing and horseness. They may also notice feeling uncomfortable when they breath, with each breath.

Risk factors for Barrett's Esophagus

Smoking, obesity, age and race are seen to increase chances of developing this health condition. Specifically, it seems to strike those over the age of 50 and is more preveland among hispanics and caucasians. Of course, having GERD or acid reflux disease also makes a person far more likely to develop this condition than someone who does not suffer from either of those health concerns. Alcohol consumption is also linked to this condition and, if a person both drinks and smokes, their risk dramatically increases.

Treatment Options for Barrett's Esophagus

Proton Pump Inhibitors, such as the medication Nexium, are typically prescribed for this condition. These types of medications work by reducing stomach acids. Histamine blockers are also sometimes used. However, the use of neither has been proven to decrease the risk of developing Barrett's.

People diagnosed with this condition are often given the same advice from their doctor that would apply to any health challenge; giving up smoking, losing weight if obese, and eating better while avoiding those foods that most frequently trigger an attack.

Photodynamic Therapy, or PDT, is a new treatment that is being used in cases of this health challenge, when it has progressed to the point that there are pre-cancerous cells found in the esophageal area. PDT was FDA-Approved in 2003 and is a form of light therapy that acts on one-celled organisms. From what I can understand, PDT is less a treatment for Barrett's Esophagus as something that can sometimes reverse pre-cancerous cells and high grade dysplasia.

Surgical procedures are also available for this condition but nothing is known to always work. If diagnosed, be sure to fully discuss the risks and percentage of success for any suggested surgical solution.

Natural Remedies for GERD

There are natural approaches that focus on supporting the body's natural healing mechanisms through the use of herbal, homeopathic, nutritional and/or other holistic health suppplements. While not being presented as a replacement for needed medical attention, Many benefit from non-prescription approaches to helping the body restore balance and normal function. One such natural remedy is called Gastronicdr



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Health Disclaimer: This information is given for educational purposes and not intended to replace any needed medical testing. An endoscopy (a medical procedure where a tube with a light is put down your throat) can allow a doctor to see if salmon-colored skin or other characteristic changes have occurred in the esophagus. If you have exhibited the symptoms covered, are at risk, or have had GERD for a long time, ask your doctor if you need to be monitored for Barrett's Esophagus.