6 Common Complaints of Barrett's Esophagus

Once food gets chewed and goes through your throat, it enters the esophagus, known as the food tube. This muscular organ in your digestive tract connects your throat to your stomach, running down your chest cavity (thorax) to do so. It’s cylindrical and has four layers of tissues and muscles to carry food to further break down in the stomach and intestines.

Digestive problems like Barrett’s esophagus can make performing this function harder and lead to various issues that can endanger your health and increase your chances of esophageal cancer. Let’s look at basic facts about Barrett’s esophagus, the complaints most people have about this illness, and how to treat it.

If you live in the Austin, Texas, area and struggle with Barrett’s esophagus and its unpleasant symptoms, Dr. Rajesh Mehta and his medical team at LoneStar Gastroenterology can help.

Facts about Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is an illness that changes the tissue in the mucus lining of your esophagus and creates what is known as intestinal metaplasia, which means tissue not generally found in one part of the body replaces other tissue. In this case, your esophagus lining is far more similar to your intestines. 

This results from chronic inflammation of this organ (also called esophagitis), often stemming from persistent issues with acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), creating discomfort in the base of your throat and chest. The irritation and damage from both illnesses often puts your food tube in a constant state of cellular repair.

These changes in the cellular lining increase your risk of cancer, and the people at higher risk are men older than 55, people with GERD or acid reflux, and smokers.

Common symptoms people complain about

Here are common signs of Barrett’s esophagus for those who find it most displeasing:

1. Acid reflux: people who deal with this often complain about the regurgitation, bad taste, and dysphagia it often brings
2. Heartburn: a burning sensation in your chest can move up and down in your thoracic cavity
3. Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties): digestive issues in this section of your body can make something as basic as swallowing harder to do
4. Chest pain: found in this disease and other gastrointestinal problems, chest pain is an issue sufferers complain about often
5. Globus (feeling a lump in your throat): this sensation isn’t always painful, but it can be disconcerting, and persistent issues may be cause for concern
6. Sore throat: although indicative of many problems not related to digestive issues, it’s often present with other symptoms

Methods of treatment

Treating this esophageal condition can be managed through several different methods. Changes in diet are a significant first step to reducing the intake of foods that exacerbate the problems. Avoid foods that raise acid levels in your stomach, decrease pressure in your lower esophagus, affect muscle movement in your digestive tract, and slow gastric emptying. Reduce your large meals, work on losing weight, and if you smoke, stop.

Various medications can help reduce the symptoms of this illness, such as antacids, histamine blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and prokinetic agents. Endoscopic surveillance can help to keep an eye on mild cases of Barrett’s esophagus and get biopsied for cancerous tissue if there are any changes. Cryoablation therapy can help by eliminating the abnormal mucus lining, and surgery is an option if the other means fail to be effective.

Barrett’s esophagus is an unpleasant problem, but there are ways to treat it, and we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Mehta and LoneStar Gastroenterology today to get relief.