Diet, lifestyle hacks to say goodbye to acid reflux and protect yourself from oesophageal cancer

Doctor shares diet tips and lifestyle tweaks to manage acid reflux and prevent oesophageal cancer, along with treatment and medications to avoid complications.

 Acid reflux might seem harmless, but chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can have life-altering consequences, including the development of oesophageal cancer. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker (Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon at MetaHeal - Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery Center in Mumbai and Saifee and Apollo and Namaha Hospitals in Mumbai) highlighted that certain factors make some people more susceptible to oesophageal cancer, including:

 Chronic GERD (acid reflux lasting for years)

Barrett’s oesophagus

Obesity (which increases pressure on the stomach, worsening reflux)

Smoking and excessive alcohol use

A diet

If you experience any of these symptoms or have multiple risk factors, do not ignore them. Seeking medical attention early can improve outcomes.

How to reduce the risk:

1. Managing acid reflux to prevent cancer

One of the ways to lower the risk of oesophageal cancer is by controlling acid reflux effectively. As per Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, here’s how that can be done: 

• Maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, pushing acid into the esophagus.
• Eat smaller meals – Overeating increases acid production and worsens reflux.
• Avoid trigger foods – Limit spicy, fatty and acidic foods, as they weaken the LES.
• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption – Both can damage the esophageal lining and weaken the LES.
• Do not lie down immediately after eating – Wait at least 2–3 hours before lying down to prevent acid reflux.
• Elevate your head while sleeping – Sleeping with an elevated head can reduce nighttime reflux.

 

2. Medical treatment options

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker revealed that doctors may prescribe medications to help manage GERD and prevent complications:

• Antacids – Neutralise stomach acid for temporary relief.
• H2 Blockers – Reduce acid production (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine).
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) – Stronger acid reducers (e.g., omeprazole, pantoprazole).

When is surgery needed?

For severe GERD that does not respond to medications, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker recommended that surgical options like fundoplication may be considered as this procedure tightens the LES, preventing acid reflux. If diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker suggested that regular endoscopic monitoring is essential to detect early signs of cancer.

Prevention tips

According to Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, the key to prevention lies in early detection, lifestyle changes and medical intervention.

• Listen to your body. Persistent acid reflux should never be ignored.
• Seek medical advice if you have long-term GERD or symptoms of Barrett’s oesophagus.
• Regular screenings can save lives. If you have risk factors, discuss endoscopic evaluation with your doctor.

By taking control of acid reflux, you can significantly lower your risk of oesophageal cancer and protect your digestive health.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Chest Pain and Acidic Reflux Can Be Dangerous: Why They Should Not Be Left Untreated

Chest pain and acid reflux are some common conditions that people occasionally experience. However, when symptoms are recurrent, it indicates a serious underlying condition. In India, where lifestyle and eating habits contribute to such health problems, it is important to create awareness and understanding of the implications of untreated chest pain and acid reflux.

1. Chest Pain

   The term ‘chest pain’ refers to pain or discomfort in the chest area. Minor problems like indigestion or muscular pull can lead to chest pain, but it can also be caused by serious health conditions like heart disease.

2. Acidic Reflux

   When stomach acid flows back to the oesophagus, it is known as acidic reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If not treated in time, it leads to discomfort and complications in the lining of the oesophagus.

Chest pain and acid reflux are often confused because of similar symptoms. Chest pain is associated with heart-based conditions like crushing pain in the chest. While acid reflux shows symptoms like a burning sensation in the chest and a sour taste in the mouth, But both conditions ask for a medical evaluation to rule out serious issues.

Potential Risks of Untreated Chest Pain
Heart Attack

Chest pain is one of the first symptoms of a heart attack. Delayed treatment leads to severe damage to heart muscles, which over time leads to health complications.

Angina

It is a condition in which the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen due to narrowed coronary arteries. Untreated angina increases the risk of a heart attack.

Other Cardiovascular Conditions

Constant chest pain is a symptom of various cardiovascular conditions, like aortic dissection or pulmonary embolism.

Potential Risks of Untreated Acidic Reflux
Esophagitis

Prolonged acid reflux leads to inflammation of the esophagus. This condition causes pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.

Barrett’s Oesophagus

Under this condition, there are changes among cells in the lining of the oesophagus due to continuous exposure to acid, leading to an increase in the risk of esophageal cancer.

Respiratory Problems

Acid reflux also leads to respiratory-related issues like constant coughing, asthma, and aspiration pneumonia.

Diagnostic Procedures
Procedures for the diagnosis of chest pain include electrocardiograms (ECG), stress tests, and angiography for assessing the function of the heart and identifying blockages. For GERD, endoscopy, pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry are done to check the severity of acid reflux.

Treatment
Medications

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs used to decrease the production of stomach acid in patients with GERD.

Lifestyle Changes

To effectively manage GERD and heart disease, it is crucial to make changes in nutrition, manage weight, and quit smoking.

Surgical Interventions

In severe conditions, surgeries like fundoplication for GERD or angioplasty and bypass surgery for heart disease are done.

It is advised to not ignore symptoms like chest pain and reflux, as they can indicate a serious underlying health condition. The burden of GERD and cardiovascular disease is decreased by raising public awareness. Living a healthy life means putting heart health first and taking care of acid reflux issues. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Aspirin may fight cancer by slowing DNA damage

Aspirin can lower risk for some cancers by slowing DNA 

damage, scientists have found. The study found that aspirin 

slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells 

in at least one pre-cancerous condition.

"Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 

which are commonly available and cost-effective 

medications, may exert cancer-preventing effects by 

lowering mutation rates," said a scientist,  who analysed 

biopsy samples from 13 patients with a pre-cancerous 

condition called Barrett's oesophagus who were tracked for 

six to 19 years. DNA mutations Some patients started out 

taking daily aspirin for several years, and then stopped, 

while others started taking aspirin for the first time during 

observation. The goal was to track the rate of mutations in 

tissues sampled at different times.

The researchers found that biopsies taken while patients 

were on an aspirin  regimen had on average accumulated 

new mutations about 10 times more slowly than biopsies 

obtained during years when patients were not taking 

aspirin. Scientist now plans to test a hypothesis that may 

explain that aspirin's lowering of mutation rates is due to 

the drug's effect of reducing inflammation.

Inflammation, a response of the immune system, in recent 

years has been recognised as a hallmark of cancer. He said 

that less inflammation may result in less production within 

pre-cancerous tissue of oxidants known to damage DNA, 

and may dampen growth-stimulating signalling.

For the duration of the study, the rate of accumulation of 

mutations measured in the biopsied tissue between time 

points was slow, even when patients were not taking 

aspirin, with the exception of one patient.While mutations 

accumulated at a steady rate, the vast majority of mutations 

arose before the abnormal tissue was first detected in the 

clinic, the researchers concluded.

These findings are consistent with the fact that although 

Barrett's oesophagus is a significant risk factor for 

oesophageal cancer, the vast majority of cases do not 

progress to cancer, he said. In the one patient who later 

went on to develop cancer, a population of cellular 'clones' 

with a great number of mutations emerged shortly before he 

started taking aspirin. Rather than aiming to kill tumour 

cells, it may be better to try to halt or slow growth and 

mutation, he said. 


ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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