Symptoms are similar to heart disease, GERD is often said to be life threatening.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often referred to as a disease that can cause death. In fact, this assumption is not entirely correct.
GERD is basically a gastrointestinal disease in which stomach acid reflux or back up into the esophagus. This condition is caused by weak valves or sphincter in the lower esophagus that is not able to close properly.
One of the symptoms GERD is pain or burning in the chest. At first glance, the symptoms of GERD are similar to those of heart disease.
“Said he died of GERD, but it turned out to be a heart,” continued the gastroenterology specialist from FKUI-RSCM Prof. Dr. Dr. Ari Fahrial Syam SpPD-KGEH MMB FINASIM in virtual media briefing with Wellesta CPI, quoted Monday (14/2/2022).
Although it does not cause death directly, it does not mean that GERD can be ignored. GERD that is not treated and managed properly can lead to a variety of complications. One of them is an injury in the area of the esophagus or esophagus due to exposure to stomach acid.
“The stomach is actually ready with a pH of 1-2, but the esophagus is not,” said Prof Ari.
As the injury to this area of the esophagus persists, more severe complications can occur later in life. These complications are esophageal cancer or esophageal cancer. When it develops into cancer, then death can occur.
“Is (GERD) life-threatening? Not directly, but if there is a process that leads to cancer, it ends up dying,” concluded Prof. Ari.
To prevent this condition, Prof. Ari said there are several efforts that can be done. One of them is treating GERD with the use of appropriate drugs such as the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) class of drugs or class of drugs potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB).
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