Is it true that the use of H2 blocker, proton pump inhibitors and other antacids can lead to the progression of recurring heartburn? The effect of reducing stomach acid can also make gastrin to be over expressed due to the reduction of stomach acid and make the pH of stomach up to neutral. The over growth of H. pylori without control can also lead to the associated risk of colorectal cancer. So, heartburn is not a simple problem and also can be a sign of the serious problem in our GI tract. The probable cancers may occur if heartburn is not treated properly such as esophageal cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer as well. Is it useful for patients to take over-the-counter prescription drug like what I mentioned above.
Hello
Heartburn occurs for two reasons
One due to gastric reflux and another reason is ischemic heart disease.
In first case PPA will help in reducing acid secretion but, if the reason for heartburn is later one. Definitely consult the doctor.
Thanks,.but, do you have any idea of the underlying cause of cancers(as I mentioned in question) can be the recurring heartburn?
Recurrent heartburn could bring to some complication such as Barrett's esophagus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072824/
(associated with an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus). The type of cancer that occurs in patients with Barrett's is adenocarcinoma.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22320939
However perhaps your question underlines the interaction between PPI and H.Pylori. I enclose the two sentences which I suppose could answer your question
It may, or may not be! But if treatment after a certain time is not successful should think of other things and among them the malignant disease, and the patient must be thoroughly examined the things that colleagues outlined above in the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease course of tumor markers and other tests that go in the Protocol to this disease!
The problem is that heartburn symptoms are very common and only a very small minority of these patients have cancer. In the uk, investigation thresholds are often related to patient age (55yo being a cut off) but any patient with on going, recurrent or unexplained reflux symptoms needs an Endoscopy.
For Oesophageal cancer the obesity, reflux, Barrett’s Oesophagus and cancer inter relations are clearly very strong. However a strong correlation between severity of heartburn symptoms and oesophagitis / barretts / cancer does not really exist. I wonder about whether the disappearance of symptoms as the Oesophagus adapts to acid may not be a warning sign, however distinguishing this from successful medical management is very difficult.
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