HEARTBURN AND CANCER

Frequent heartburn increases the risk of throat and vocal-cord cancer by nearly 80 percent, a new study shows. In a study of 1,865 people, Brown University researchers found that those who reported having frequent heartburn proved far more likely to have developed throat or vocal-cord cancer than those who didn’t. (click below to read more)

 That was true even when they had no high-risk habits such as smoking or heavy drinking, and were not infected with the human papillomavirus, which can cause cancers of the head and neck. That “strongly suggests gastric reflux, which causes frequent heartburn, is an independent risk factor” for those cancers, study author Scott M. Langevin tells CBSNews.com. Gastric reflux, which occurs when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus, can be caused by pregnancy; eating fatty, fried, or spicy foods; and drinking alcohol, juice, or soda. Researchers think that the acid damages the cells of the esophagus over time, making them more susceptible to cancer. Taking over-the-counter antacids appeared to reduce cancer risk by 40 percent, while prescription antacids did not. That might be because people who take the more serious drugs have the most severe heartburn.