Understanding Barrett’s Oesophagus: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors
Barrett’s oesophagus, named after a British surgeon, Norman R Barrett, is a condition where the squamous epithelium of the distal part of the oesophagus mutates to metaplastic columnar epithelium because of chronic exposure to gastric acids.
The pathological changes in the oesophagus after many years after developing gastroesophageal reflux disease. In rare cases, it causes adenocarcinoma in the distal part of the oesophagus.
This condition is detected through endoscopy and is followed usually by a biopsy test.
Symptoms:
Barrett’s oesophagus does not show any sign or symptoms but is often associated with the following symptoms:
- Chronic heartburn.
- Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing food.
- Vomiting of blood
- Pain under the sternum at the juncture of oesophagus and stomach
- Loss of weight as it is very painful to eat food.
Causes:
The cause for developing Barrett’s oesophagus is not known, but in almost all the cases where people have Barrett’s oesophagus were having GERD for a long time. The backlog of gastric acid for a long time causes changes in the lining of the distal part of the oesophagus. The oesophagus recovers by the damage caused to its cells by the backlog of gastric acid and a new metaplastic layer of columnar epithelium replace the original squamous epithelium.
Yet, Barrett’s oesophagus is sometimes diagnosed to people who had never experienced or complained heartburn earlier.
Risk factors:
The following conditions are acts as risk factors for Barrett’s oesophagus:
- More common among older adults.
- People having chronic heartburn.
- Men are at higher risk of developing Barrett’s oesophagus than women.
- Family history
- People who smoke are at higher risk.
- People who consume excessive alcohol are at higher risk.
- People of Non-Hispanic race are at higher risk.
- Obese people are at higher risk.
- People having diabetes are at higher risk.
- People having hypertension are at higher risk.
- People infected with pylori are at higher risk to develop Barrett’s oesophagus.
- People who eat spicy and fatty food.
Complications:
The complications in an early stage of Barrett’s oesophagus shows early precancerous changes and if not detected or treated can lead to cancer. If the cancer is left untreated it can metastasize to other body parts.
However, cancer is very rare.
Lifestyle tips to manage symptoms:
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain healthy body weight.
- Control blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Avoid food like chocolate, coffee, tea, spicy food, fatty food, peppermint, alcohol and all food that worsen acid reflex.
- Avoid medicine that causes acid reflux.
- Avoid smoking tobacco.
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Visit your doctor if you experience new symptoms.