Barrett's esophagus

If you have acid reflux or GERD, you may also be diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus. While the condition is rare, it’s often a complication of reflux diseases, which are marked by acid leaking back from the stomach and eroding the esophagus.

What is Barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus occurs over time when the muscle fibers in the lower esophagus region loosen, allowing stomach acid to leak into the esophagus. This causes damage to the tissues over time and changes the cells of the lining, altering the esophageal tissue enough that it can mimic intestinal tissue.

Barrett’s esophagus is a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), a chronic regurgitation of stomach acid into the lower esophagus. While the risk is small, Barrett’s esophagus can also increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer.

What causes Barrett’s esophagus?

The exact cause of Barrett’s esophagus is unknown, but having GERD or acid reflux seems to increase a person’s chance of developing the condition. It’s estimated about 10% of people with GERD eventually develop Barrett’s esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus symptoms

Signs of Barrett’s esophagus are usually related to GERD and include:

• Heartburn
• Chest pain
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Trouble swallowing food
• Dry cough or clearing your throat repeatedly
• Sour-tasting fluid backing up into your mouth
• Frequent burping or belching

Chest pain and trouble swallowing can be signs of something more serious and require immediate medical care.

Risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus

The following risk factors increase your likelihood of developing Barrett’s esophagus:

• Obesity or being overweight
• Developing GERD at a young age or having heartburn for 10 years or more
• Smoking
• Family history
• Being over 50 years old
• Assigned male at birth

How is Barrett’s esophagus diagnosed?

First, you’ll meet with your doctor for a physical exam. You’ll talk about your symptoms, and your doctor may order tests such as an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), also called an upper GI endoscopy.

In this test, a lighted tube equipped with a tiny camera (endoscope) is inserted down your throat to look for changes to the tissue in the esophagus. During the procedure, the doctor can also remove tissue samples (biopsy) from the esophagus by inserting instruments through the endoscope to gather cells.

What is the treatment for Barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus treatment depends on whether there are cellular changes noted on the biopsy and the degree of changes noted. Treatment often involves performing an endoscopic biopsy to see if there’s any abnormal or precancerous cell growth, called dysplasia.

If there’s Barrett’s esophagus without dysplasia, your doctor may recommend medication to reduce the amount of acid the body produces. If you have Barrett’s esophagus with dysplasia, your doctor may recommend a Halo procedure, which uses radiofrequency ablation, or heat energy, to remove abnormal precancerous tissue in the esophagus. This treatment can also help prevent the development of esophageal cancer.

Your doctor might recommend treating your GERD symptoms with medication or with surgery to tighten the muscle that controls the flow of stomach acid. Additionally, your doctor might also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to help you control GERD.

Most importantly, if you've been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus, it's important to have regular checkups.

What foods should you avoid with Barrett’s esophagus?

Dietary and lifestyle changes are often the best ways to manage Barrett’s esophagus as well as prevent GERD and acid reflux. Consider making these adjustments to lessen your symptoms:

• Avoid foods such as citrus fruit and tomatoes that increase the level of acid in your stomach.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages.
• Avoid fatty foods, alcohol and peppermint.
• Avoid large meals and try to eat at least three hours before bed.
• Quit smoking.
• Elevate your head while sleeping to keep your stomach acid down and lessen your symptoms.
• Lose weight if you’re overweight.

Do you suffer from acid reflux?

Millions of people suffer from acid reflux, more commonly known as heartburn. Our acid reflux quiz helps evaluate your symptoms, identify your risk factors and give you an idea what to do next based on your results.
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