(AP) - People who suffer frequent heartburn and acid reflux run a
higher risk of developing cancer of the esophagus, and taking
antacids won't reduce the danger, a study found. Heartburn is a
burning pain in the chest that people commonly associate with spicy
foods or overeating. Acid reflux is a regurgitation of acid from the
stomach into the esophagus because of a faulty valve. Doctors suspect
over time, the irritating acid causes cellular changes in the
esophagus that can lead to the most deadly form of esophageal cancer,
adenocarcinoma. The study on the connection was conducted by Swedish
researchers and published in Thursday's New England Journal of
Medicine.