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3. Heartburn? Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid Slideshow

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

In general, esophagitis caused by infection or inflammation is very treatable with mediation, dietary or behavioral modification and in some cases, surgical intervention. Most individuals recover fully, some have chronic inflammation that is managed with long-term medical treatment.

About 10% to 15% of patients with GERD go on to develop Barrett's esophagus. Less than 1% of patients withe Barrett's esophagus develop cancer, still, they are at an increased risk. Those who have Barrett's esophagus should be monitored closely by a gastroenterologist.

The outlook for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis is favorable. It is a chronic, relapsing condition, but not usually one that is life-threatening. Treatments are evolving using different immune modulators to decrease the allergy-like reactions.

Achalasia is a progressive, but treatable disorder. Close monitoring by a gastroenterologist is mandatory. A small number of individuals with achalasia may develop squamous cell cancer (carcinoma) as a result.

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