Scientists from the United States have found that gastroesophageal reflux disease, one of the manifestations of which is heartburn, is associated with a high risk of developing cancer of the larynx and esophagus. The article was published in the journal of the American Cancer Society CANCER, reports RIA Novosti.
A related phenomenon, called acid reflux, or heartburn, leads to damage to the tissues of the esophagus and larynx, and with prolonged exposure can lead to a fatal disease – cancer.
In 1995-1996, the NIH collaborated with the American Association of Retirees AARP to conduct a study involving 3.5 million people aged 50 to 71. Scientists have tried to figure out the link between nutrition and health.
As a result, after 16 years, it turned out that 24 percent of participants initially had a history of GERD. Of these, 931 developed esophageal adenocarcinoma, 301 developed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 876 developed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Among people diagnosed, the likelihood of developing any of these types of cancer were twice as high. At the same time, the high risk was the same for all groups, taking into account gender, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Earlier, the therapist of the Moscow City Clinical Hospital No. 17, a member of the Russian Society of Physicians Zukhra Aliyeva said that most often heartburn indicates the presence of gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenal ulcer, chronic cholesticitis, pancreatitis, reflux gastroesophageal disease, dysfunction biliary tract, gastric cardia insufficiency, diaphragmatic hernia.