The Mysteries Surrounding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

There are many unresolved issues surrounding the proper diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This malady is primarily caused by stomach induced acid and is flowed back into the upper esophagus and throat. Tissues and some vital organs can be damaged by constant exposure to acid. But more research is needed to correct several inconsistencies in diagnosing symptoms of acid reflux disease and the direct relation of various complications attributed to GERD. Heartburn is a major contentious issue. There are only empirical evidences that suggest a direct correlation of GERD and heartburn. It has not been totally established until now if GERD is the ultimate cause of heartburn. It is also not clear if heartburn is exclusively the symptom for GERD. Many medical experts habitually attribute heartburn cases to the occurrence of GERD in patients. They then proceed to treat heartburn with solutions for curing acid reflux disorders. However, other gastrointestinal problems such as duodenal and gastric ulcers can also produce symptoms of heartburns. Moreover, only a minority of GERD patients suffer from heartburn, while not all heartburn cases exhibited signs of having acid reflux disease. It is a mystery to some medical experts why majority of gastrointestinal specialist attribute heartburn to GERD and vice versa even if evidence pointing to the fact is at most insufficient.

Another gray area in the field of study of gastroesophageal reflux disease is the correlation between the disease and the perceived damage it causes due to esophageal reflux. There are cases in which a person with a totally healthy esophagus experienced extreme pain in mild attacks of acid reflux while there are some studies that show inflamed esophagus, with clear indication of esophagitis, did not felt anything at all or did not suffer heartburn during acid reflux. The evidences are baffling and experts are not in agreement as to how these abnormalities occur.

There is also a need to research further if GERD patients with significant damage on their esophagus are more prone to develop cancer. The numbers do not agree however because only a minority of those with pre-cancer disorder on their esophagus develop full blown cancer. Esophageal cancer is more pronounced on patients showing frequent episodes of heartburns. This point should be investigated. Do chronic heartburn patients develop cancer more easily than those GERD patients who do not experience heartburns? Cancer prevention could be improved if this issue can be investigated properly.

The contentious issues concern not just medical experts and researchers but the general public as well. Accurate diagnosis for acid reflux disease could be suspect because of pending issues still debated in the medical field. Meanwhile, treatment of acid reflux causes could be greatly enhanced if the issues could be resolved. Furthermore, new techniques in treating acid reflux disorders and similar diseases could arise if issues are settled.