Khaberni - Many people suffer from heartburn, which is often a simple condition and does not usually cause concern. However, health experts warn that these symptoms could represent a major sign of a life-threatening condition.
In the midst of our daily busyness, we might tend to ignore these "minor complaints" or treat them with quick medications. A new medical warning has highlighted a dark side that might be lurking behind these common symptoms, where health experts warn that heartburn could be the mask behind which esophageal cancer hides, one of the most vicious types of cancer that silently progresses and becomes more deadly the later it is diagnosed.
Esophageal cancer develops in the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach, with major risk factors including smoking, drinking alcohol, and obesity.
People who suffer from chronic heartburn or indigestion might be more susceptible to the disease, and these symptoms themselves could be a signal of the beginning of tumor growth.
Professor Shiraz Markar, a surgeon at the University of Oxford hospitals, explains: "Symptoms of esophageal cancer can be vague, but the most common sign is persistent heartburn. Other symptoms might include difficulty swallowing, nausea, and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or chronic indigestion. If any of these signs appear, we advise seeing your general practitioner immediately. There are good treatment options if the disease is detected early, but the situation becomes more complicated once it spreads."
