The esophagus is a muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the back of the throat to the stomach. Swallowed food is massaged down the oesophagus and passed through a weak ring of muscle (sphincter) into the stomach. When this squamous cell lining is replaced by other cells that have a more cube-like shape, the condition is known as Barrett's esophagus or the columnar-lined esophagus, referring to cells that are shaped like a column.When the normal squamous lining cells of the esophagus are replaced by columnar cells, the process is known as metaplasia. The metaplastic columnar lining comes in three types. The third type is similar to groups of cells found in the small intestine. This intestinal type of metaplasia is important because it can potentially lead to the development of cancer. People who experience persistent symptoms of reflux (for more than five years) are at risk of developing Barrett's oesophagus. Importantly, Barrett's oesophagus is a risk factor for cancer of the lower oesophagus. Symptoms of Barrett's oesophagus are usually no different from regular heartburn, and on occasions may be fairly trivial. In fact, most people with cancer of the lower oesophagus have not been previously diagnosed with reflux. Barrett's oesophagus is more common in men than women.

Barrett's oesophagus is a condition in which abnormal cells develop on the inner lining of the lower part of the gullet (oesophagus). Barrett's oesophagus is estimated to affect about 700,000 adults in the United States. While Barrett's oesophagus may cause no symptoms itself, a small number of people with this condition develop a relatively rare but often deadly type of cancer of the oesophagus called ooesophageal adenocarcinoma. Barrett's oesophagus is not a cancerous condition, but over a long period of time it can occasionally lead to cancer developing in the lower part of the oesophagus. Approximately 1-2 out of every 200 people in the UK have Barrett's oesophagus; however, very few people with this condition go on to develop cancer (about 1 in 100 each year). It is associated with the very common condition gastroooesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Causes of Barrett's Oesophagus

The common Causes of Barrett's Oesophagus :

A high fat diet that is low in fruit and vegetables can increase your risk of getting many types of cancer. The risk increases if you are also obese (very overweight).
Cancer of the oesophagus is most common in people over the age of 50
Long-term exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants - this can irritate the oesophagus and increase your risk of developing cancer.

Symptoms of Barrett's Oesophagus

Some Symptoms of Barrett's Oesophagus :

Vomiting
Painful swallowing
Difficulty swallowing
Persistent heartburn
Weight loss
A sensation of fullness during eating.

Treatment of Barrett's Oesophagus

An anti-reflux operation can be performed, usually if the medications are ineffective. If cancerous cells or severe dysplasia has been detected, the lower oesophagus will need to be surgically removed
It is essential, once Barrett's oesophagus has been diagnosed, that treatment is given which eliminates acid reflux. The typical medications used are lansoprazole, omeprazole and pantoprazole. These are very effective at eliminating symptoms of reflux. Specialists treating this condition may need to check the effectiveness of any medications, using 24-hour pH monitoring.

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

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