Symptoms
The change from normal to premalignant cells that indicate Barrett esophagus does not cause any particular symptoms. Barrett esophagus, however, is associated with the following symptoms:
- frequent and longstanding heartburn
- trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
- vomiting blood (hematemesis)
- pain under the breastbone where the esophagus meets the stomach
- unintentional weight loss because eating is painful
The risk of developing Barrett esophagus is increased by central (vs. peripheral) obesity. The exact mechanism is unclear. The difference in distribution of fat among men (more central) and women (more peripheral) may explain the increased risk in males.
Read more about this topic: Barrett's Esophagus
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