Often Chest Pain? Alert The Risk of Throat Cancer

illustration

Heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest usually suffered by pregnant women, ulcer sufferers or patient specific diseases such as diabetes and of course GERD or acid reflux. However it turned out a new study found that the risk of heartburn also causes cancer, ie throat cancer and vocal cords.

"Previous studies say a link between gastric reflux and head cancer nor neck mazy. But our study which big scale with a parameter which obviously can demonstrate that gastric reflux that can cause heartburn is an independent risk factor for the emergence of cancer of the throat (pharynx) and the voice box (larynx), "said researcher Dr. Scott M. Langevin of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

The researchers obtain to the conclusion after observing 631 patients of the Boston who had taken part in a population-based study about the risk of this cancer. Then the participants compared with 1,234 other the participants which healthy and not have history of previous cancer with the same age group.

Every the participants requested to fill some questionnaires about cancer history of his family the followings a history of heartburn, smoking habits and alcohol consumption habits of the the participants themselves. Researchers also test whether there are patients who suffer the human papillomavirus or HPV are saying can increase the risk of mouth cancer.

From there it is known 468 patients among them is known suffer the cancer of throat, whereas the other 163 patients suffering vocal cord cancer.

The participants who often experiencing the heartburn also reported risk of throat cancer and vocal chords as big as 78 percent, although they are not smokers or heavy drinkers. However, the participants are often exposed to heartburn and then antacid consumption is also known experiencing reduced risk of cancer as big as 41 percent.

"It means antacids that are sold free at pharmacies it can help lower the risk of throat cancer nor vocal cord cancer," said Langevin.

Even according to the researchers, effect of this antacids remained consistent for patients, irrespective of the patient is still keep smoking / drinking or not nor suffer oral HPV or not. This effect was also seen only on antacids only and not on other prescription medicines nor home-style treatment.

Even so, Langevin confess not know for sure why the only antacid that is associated with a reduced risk of a second of this cancer.

"We suspect with neutralize the pH of stomach acid that enters into the throat, antacids can prevent chronic irritation and cell damage that can eventually cause cancer in second the organs. however whatever who we are reveal this, new limited speculation so that still needs more many advanced study for understand this effect, "he concluded.

This study has been published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.