Esophageal Disease may be linked to Genes

The esophagus is the long tube that connects your mouth to your stomach and assists in the transport of food. One condition that affects the esophagus of many people is GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is caused by a weak esophageal sphincter, the muscle near the stomach that opens and closes to let food pass and prevent stomach acid from entering upwards. If the sphincter is not working properly, liquids from the stomach may leak back into the esophagus and cause irritation.

The symptom that presents most often with GERD is heartburn. Other symptoms include nausea right after eating, acid reflux, or a feeling that there is a lump in your throat.

If not treated, gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, which is a change in the lining of the esophagus due to damage from acid reflux, and cancer. Barrett’s esophagus is a risk factor in one of the two types of cancer of the esophagus.

A recent study has found a genetic predisposition for people with esophageal disorders. Mutations were found in three genes in 11 percent of the people in the study. That percentage is considered to be significant enough to show a moderate to high genetic link for both Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.

There will need to be further studies to confirm these findings and to assess how this information can be used to screen people who are at risk for esophageal disease or help diagnosis the disease. This is important because in the past four decades, the occurrence of esophageal cancer has risen by 350 percent in Europe and the United States. Currently, the amount of people in the general population that have Barrett’s esophagus is 10 percent.

People in Dallas and the rest of Texas will many times experience heartburn after eating Tex-Mex or barbeque. If this happens occasionally, there is usually no cause for concern. If it happens twice a week or more, then it is considered chronic and you should see a specialist.