Is Reflux a serious problem?

If someone experiences reflux regularly this is normally quite uncomfortable. Depending on how frequent and bothersome this is for a person determines if treatment such as surgery should be performed. More serious consequences can occur. With long term inflammation from reflux (either acid or bile) oesophagitis and ulcers can form in the oesophagus. This can cause bleeding and scarring which could affect someone’s ability to swallow. Reflux can lead to development of Barrett’s Oesophagus which is a known precursor to oesophageal cancer (albeit rare). Additionally, it is thought that chronic inflammation from reflux (without Barrett’s) is the reason why oesophageal cancer is more common in patients with reflux (albeit still very rare).