Hello and thank you for your questions. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid flows backwards into the tube connecting your throat and stomach called the esophagus. As the lining of your esophagus is not made to withstand the corrosive effects of the strong acid, repeated exposure causes irritation.

Common symptoms include chest pain or heartburn, especially after eating or lying down, having the feeling of a lump in your throat, swallowing difficulties, burping, regurgitating food or sourish fluid, a chronic cough, sore throat or disrupted sleep.

Its causes and risk factors include obesity, hiatal hernia, pregnancy, smoking, delayed emptying of the stomach, large meals, coffee, alcohol and even fatty foods. In order to confirm the diagnosis, your doctor would have to evaluate your symptoms, medical history, perform a physical exam and maybe even some procedures such as an endoscopy, ambulatory pH probe test, esophageal manometry or abdominal x-ray.

For most people, symptoms are manageable with over-the-counter medications like proton-pump inhibitors, H2 receptor blockers or antacids. Lifestyle changes recommended include losing weight, having smaller meals, stopping alcohol and smoking and reducing caffeine intake. In more severe cases such as GERD due to hiatal hernias, surgery may be required.

Complications in the long run may include esophageal strictures, ulcers and Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition that occurs before cancer due to the chronic inflammation of the esophagus from prolonged exposure to stomach acid.

You are right that GERD may indeed increase one’s risk for esophageal cancer. And this is because the cells making up the esophageal lining ends up changing (metaplasia and dysplasia) after prolonged, repeated exposure to stomach acid.

Do consult a doctor so that the right tests may be done and appropriate treatment to be administered. Your father may also consider trying over-the-counter medications mentioned above.