Heartburn: Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid Slideshow Pictures Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures Diverticulitis (Diverticulosis) Slideshow Pictures

What kinds of complications are caused by frequent heartburn?

• Excess stomach acid in the esophagus can cause ulcers, damage to the inner layers of the esophageal wall, and narrowing (stricture and swallowing difficulty).
  
  
• Very rarely, the esophagus may bleed or tear completely because it is so damaged. In severe cases, you may vomit blood or have small amounts of blood in your bowel movements, found only on testing the stool.
  
  
• Regurgitated stomach acid can damage the respiratory tract, causing asthma, hoarseness, chronic cough, sore throat, or tooth damage (acid eats the enamel on teeth). You may feel as if you have a lump in your throat.
  
  
• If the acid exposure continues for long periods of time, the esophagus becomes thick and damaged. You may then have difficulty swallowing so that food gets stuck.