What Is GERD and How Can You Manage Its Long-Term Effects?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not just regular heartburn. It is a long-term digestive problem that affects millions of people. GERD happens when stomach acid keeps moving back into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. This acid causes burning, irritation, and discomfort that can turn into bigger health issues if ignored.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, GERD affects approximately 20% of the U.S. population, making it one of the most widespread gastrointestinal disorders. 

This may lead to swelling, bleeding, or even changes in the cells that raise the risk of cancer. The long-term effects of acid reflux are often overlooked, but they can seriously affect your health and daily life. Doctors typically diagnose GERD with specialized tests and recommend a treatment plan that may include dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, medication, or surgery. 

Here, we’ll explain how GERD can get worse if untreated and share simple, effective ways to manage it and protect your esophagus.

What is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic medical condition that causes symptoms and complications when stomach contents reflux up into the esophagus, or food pipe. Both regurgitation and heartburn are the most typical signs of GERD. A burning feeling behind the breastbone in the chest is called heartburn. The sensation of food or liquid rising into the chest is known as regurgitation. If not managed properly, the heartburn long-term effects can lead to damage in the esophagus and other serious complications.

Some patients may have one symptom without the other, but many people have both. Over time, untreated GERD can lead to esophagitis, ulcers, strictures, and even Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition that significantly raises the risk of esophageal cancer.

More severe GERD symptoms could be:

• Either in bed or at night.

• After a big or fatty meal.

• After bending over.

• Following alcohol or smoking use.

While there’s no cure for GERD, there are steps you can take to prevent GERD in some cases. GERD may be caused by several medical conditions and lifestyle decisions, so treating these medical conditions and avoiding bad habits can help you prevent GERD. If you think you may be at risk of developing GERD, a healthcare professional might be able to diagnose GERD based on a history of symptoms and a physical examination.

Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of GERD

Early treatment is the best way to avoid the long-term effects of GERD, which can range from a little bit of pain and discomfort to serious esophageal conditions. The first step is getting a diagnosis, then talking to your doctor about the best GERD treatment plan for you. The sooner you focus on treating GERD, the less you have to worry about the long-term effects of GERD.

As far as the long-term effects go, here’s what you can expect if you don’t treat GERD:

1. Esophagitis

One of the first complications of long-term acid reflux is esophagitis. It can cause pain and discomfort and affect the function of the esophagus. While there are ways to reduce the inflammation associated with esophagitis, this can take several days.

Common symptoms of esophagitis include:

• Trouble swallowing: feeling like food doesn’t go down smoothly.

• Painful swallowing: discomfort or pain each time you swallow.

• Food impaction: when food gets stuck in the esophagus.

• Heartburn: a burning pain behind the breastbone, often felt during meals.

• Acid reflux: stomach acid backing up into the esophagus.

Treatment for esophagitis depends on its exact cause and how badly the tissue that lines the esophagus is damaged. Without treatment, esophagitis can damage this lining. While esophagitis is painful and uncomfortable, it’s generally not a huge medical concern. If you believe you have esophagitis, you should talk to your doctor about steps you can take to treat it.

2. Esophagus Bleeding

GERD can cause esophageal bleeding through chronic esophagitis, which can lead to erosions or ulcers that bleed. In more severe, rare cases, like with significant Barrett's esophagus or associated conditions, bleeding can also arise from enlarged veins (esophageal varices)

Symptoms: 

• Vomiting blood: (may be bright red).

• Blood in stools: (dark, tarry, or black).

• Signs of shock: Lightheadedness, weakness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and low blood pressure

Immediate medical attention is crucial, with treatments like endoscopic banding, medication to reduce portal pressure, or, in severe cases, a temporary balloon to apply pressure to the veins. 

3. Strictures 

One of the serious long-term effects of acid reflux is the development of esophageal strictures. 

• Strictures happen when stomach acid repeatedly damages the lining of the esophagus. 

• As the tissue heals, scar tissue forms, making the esophagus tighter and narrower. 

• This narrowing can cause many problems, including trouble swallowing, a burning feeling in the throat, chest discomfort, and food getting stuck after swallowing. 

Strictures are not rare among people with chronic GERD. 

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, about 7–23% of patients with untreated GERD may develop esophageal strictures over time. 

The main treatment is esophageal dilation, where doctors gently stretch or widen the narrowed area using special instruments. With proper treatment, strictures can be managed, but ongoing GERD care is important to prevent them from returning.

4. Barrett’s Esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus is perhaps the most common of the long-term effects of GERD, especially if you don’t do anything to manage GERD. Barrett’s esophagus is a condition where the normal lining of the esophagus changes due to constant acid exposure. 

Barrett’s esophagus is not cancer, but it is considered a precancerous condition because it raises the chance of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, a dangerous type of cancer.

Doctors typically diagnose Barrett’s esophagus through an endoscopy, where a small camera is used to view the esophagus. According to the American Cancer Society, about 0.5% of people with Barrett’s esophagus develop esophageal cancer each year, making early detection and regular monitoring critical for long-term health.

How to Manage the Long-Term Effects of GERD

If you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, it’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment and management of GERD. For example, switching to a GERD diet can help reduce acid reflux, and you may have other options in the form of surgery or medication. If you want to know more about managing GERD so you don’t do long-term damage to your esophagus, here are some things you can do.

1. Lifestyle Changes

Simple lifestyle adjustments can make a huge difference to prevent heartburn long-term effects. The first thing you should consider is making changes to your diet. Certain foods may make heartburn worse, while others are very gentle on your stomach. The goal is to eat the foods that help with GERD and avoid the ones that make it worse. Your doctor can help you come up with a detailed diet plan for GERD.

• Modify your diet: Avoid spicy, fried, and acidic foods that trigger reflux. Choose whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, and non-citrus fruits.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Extra abdominal fat increases pressure on the stomach, worsening reflux.

• Quit smoking: Doctors believe that smoking may make GERD worse by loosening the lower sphincter of the esophagus, which allows acid to reflux into the esophagus from the stomach. 

• Sleep smart: Elevating your head with specialized pillows like reflux relief pillows helps reduce nighttime reflux.

2. Medication

In some cases, your doctor may recommend certain medications to help treat GERD. The goal of these medications is to reduce the production or reflux of acid to prevent the esophageal damage that GERD can cause. There are three types of medications that may be used to treat GERD: antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

• Antacids that neutralize stomach acid. Antacids containing calcium carbonate, such as Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums, may provide quick relief. But antacids alone won't heal an inflamed esophagus damaged by stomach acid. Overuse of some antacids can cause side effects, such as diarrhea or sometimes kidney complications.

• Medicines to reduce acid production. These medicines, known as histamine (H-2) blockers, include cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC) and nizatidine (Axid). H-2 blockers don't act as quickly as antacids, but they provide longer relief and may decrease acid production from the stomach for up to 12 hours. Stronger versions are available by prescription.

• Medicines that block acid production and heal the esophagus. These medicines, known as proton pump inhibitors, are stronger acid blockers than H-2 blockers and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. Nonprescription proton pump inhibitors include lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

3. GERD Surgery

GERD can usually be controlled with medicine. But if medicines don't help or you wish to avoid long-term medicine use, a healthcare professional might recommend surgery.

The goal of this surgery is to reduce the reflux that’s caused by GERD or NERD and prevent the damage that reflux can cause. Before you opt for GERD surgery, talk to your doctor about the risks of GERD surgery and the difference between GERD vs. NERD.

Source: Mayo

4. Deep-breathing training

A technique known as diaphragmatic breathing may help improve GERD symptoms for some people. This exercise is done after eating. It involves breathing deeply into the diaphragm rather than shallowly into the chest. Diaphragmatic breathing techniques should ideally be taught by a trained medical professional.

The Final Thoughts

Living with GERD can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that it can be managed with the right plan. By making lifestyle changes, following your doctor’s advice, and using effective treatments, you can prevent the serious long-term effects of acid reflux, including Barrett’s esophagus and other complications. Early action is the key to protecting your esophagus and improving your overall quality of life.

If nighttime reflux is one of your biggest struggles, MedCline can help. Our specially designed GERD relief pillows are proven to reduce acid exposure while you sleep, easing discomfort and protecting your esophagus from further damage. Don’t let GERD disrupt your nights or put your health at risk. Explore MedCline’s GERD solutions today and take the first step toward lasting relief and better sleep.