Barrett’s Esophagus is a condition in which the normal tissue in the lining of esophagus, a tube connecting the mouth and the stomach, is abnormally replaced with different tissue, which is similar to the tissue lining the stomach or intestine. Barrett’s Esophagus is a rare condition not known to majority of people and it affects only 1.6 to 3 percent of the individuals. The people suffering from Barrett’s Esophagus are at a slightly increased risk of developing Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, which is a serious, potentially fatal and rare form of the cancer affecting esophagus. According to National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the Esophageal Cancer affects only 0.5 percent of people having Barrett’s Esophagus each year. However, if you have been diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus then it’s very important to have routine examinations of your esophagus which help the doctor to discover precancerous and cancer cells at early stage and can be easily treated.
Barrett’s Esophagus is most commonly seen in people having long-term GERD, which stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, a condition in which the stomach acid repeatedly escapes to lower part of the esophagus causing abnormality, infection and pain.
Here, we give you a brief overview of Barrett’s Esophagus: its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment and how it relates to the condition called GERD.
How does GERD relate to Barrett’s Esophagus?
