A Real Disease

Acid-related diseases are just that – real diseases with underlying biological causes. Damage to the upper GI tract is often caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, (GERD), stomach acid moving back up into the lower esophagus and eroding the lining of the esophagus. Acid-related diseases can also be caused by long-term use of NSAIDs, commonly used to treat arthritis pain, or Helicobacter pylori infection.

A recent Canadian study (called Canadian Adult Dyspepsia Empiric Treatment - Prompt Endoscopy or CADET-PE) involving 1040 adults with uninvestigated upper GI symptoms (this means that the cause of their symptoms hadn’t been previously assessed), found that when the gastrointestinal tracts of these people were examined, there were often signs of clinically significant damage – damage warranting medical attention. Out of every ten individuals involved in the study, more than half had some sort of damage to their upper GI tract; specifically, damage to the esophagus, stomach and/or the duodenum (the uppermost part of the small intestine).

Acid-related diseases may also dramatically impact your quality of life. This loss of psychological well-being is comparable to that experienced by individuals who suffer from migraine or moderate congestive heart failure. Living a healthy lifestyle is important for general health reasons. Unfortunately, there is little scientific evidence to prove that, for people with an underlying physiological cause, poor eating habits and stress are the cause of symptoms or that lifestyle changes will improve them.

Lots of us experience occasional indigestion, but frequent and persistent digestive problems may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. The upper GI symptoms of acid-related diseases are real. Don’t ignore them.