Bangalore (PTI): Patients sufferring from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at a high risk of food pipe cancer, an expert in the field has warned.

The changing consumption patterns and lifestyle has increased the number of GERD patients, noted gastroenterologist Dr Rajsekhar Nayak says.

Apart from changing lifestyle and food habits, stress, long hours of starvation, eating spicy food, smoking and excess alcohol intake are the other causes that lead to severe symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease, he said.

The disease is commonly found amongst patients in the age group from 20-40 years, Nayak, who has performed several laproscopic anti-reflux surgeries, told PTI here.

GERD afflicts people due to formation of a large space between food pipe and stomach junction, due to which the stomach loosens up.

The hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach comes up, it triggers "heart burn" symptoms. If the process continues for a longer period of time, the inner lining of the food pipe becomes inflammed and can lead to oesophagitis, ulcertation and bleeding, Nayak said.

The cost of treatment for patients afflicted by food pipe cancer was expensive and it was advisable to go for timely treatment to cure the disease, he suggests.

Dr Nayak also warns against taking acid suppressants for a long duration as it will have serious adverse affects. The suppressants will destory benign bacteria that would help the process of digestion and also those agents which help the body absorb vitamins and iron contents from the food.

Dr Nayak said if long term medication fails, laproscopic fundoplication could be the best alterantive to treat GERD.

The surgery is done under general anaesthesia, so the pain is relatively less.

"This procedure is safe because there is only minimal blood loss. So there is no need for blood transfusions. Since the opening is small, there is faster healing. Patients return to normal health rapidly", Nayak said.

He says people can reduce the risk of developing reflux by cutting down their weight avoiding large and high fat meals and alcohol consumption.