Understanding Alcohol Esophagitis

The connection between alcohol and esophageal cancer often begins with a condition called alcohol esophagitis.

What is Alcohol Esophagitis​?

Alcohol esophagitis is a medical condition that is characterized by an inflammation of the esophagus. It is also sometimes referred to as alcoholic esophagitis or reflux esophagitis.

The esophagus is a tube-shaped organ that connects the pharynx (which is located behind the tongue) with the stomach. It is part of the digestive system, with responsibility for transporting food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach.

When the esophagus becomes inflamed as a result of alcohol use or another cause, it can be a source of considerable pain. 

Esophagitis itself is rarely fatal, but if a person doesn’t get proper care for this condition, it can increase their risk for a range of serious problems such as ulcers, scarring, a narrowing of the esophagus, and esophageal cancer. 

How Common Is Esophagitis From Alcohol?

Experts estimate that erosive esophagitis (EE) may affect as many as 1% of the population. This disorder has many potential causes, and it is difficult to find accurate data on the prevalence of alcohol esophagitis.

In November 2022, the journal Nutrients published an observational, longitudinal study from Japan that investigated the link between alcohol consumption and esophagitis. 

The researchers reviewed medical data from 2,582 adult patients under the age of 50, all of whom completed at least two health checkups over a period of a year or more. None of the patients had EE when the study began, though 15% of the men and 6.7% of the women eventually developed the condition.

Findings from this study included:

• Among male patients, drinking at least 70g of alcohol per week and drinking on a daily basis were determined to be risk factors for erosive esophagitis.
• Female patients had an increased risk of erosive esophagitis if they consumed at least 140g of alcohol per week or engaged in daily drinking.
• A standard drink contains 14g of alcohol. This means that for women, the threshold for elevated esophagitis risk was 10 drinks per week, while men increased their risk when they had five drinks or more on a weekly basis.

“We recommend no alcohol consumption for individuals aged <50 years to avoid EE development,” the researchers wrote, adding that “Daily drinkers should be assessed for EE development.”

Symptoms and Causes

In addition to alcohol consumption, other risk factors for developing esophagitis include:

• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• Regularly drinking caffeine
• Eating a lot of fatty or spicy foods
• Vomiting frequently
• Experiencing acid reflux
• Incurring a spinal cord injury
• Taking certain medications on a regular basis, including aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Undergoing radiation therapy
• Developing a bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
• Having certain allergies

Symptoms of esophagitis include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling like there’s something caught in your throat
• Frequent burping
• Sore throat
• Persistent nausea
• Heartburn and indigestion
• Chest pain
• Sores in the mouth
• Blood in the stool

Anyone who exhibits these types of symptoms should be assessed by a gastroenterologist. If esophagitis is caught in time, it can be treated. However, as we previously noted, failing to get proper treatment for esophagitis can increase your risk of developing additional serious health concerns, including esophageal cancer.

What Are the Different Types of Esophagitis?

Esophagitis is a general term, as there are several distinct types of the condition, including:

• Alcohol esophagitis
• Reflux esophagitis
• Infectious esophagitis
• Medication-induced esophagitis
• Radiation esophagitis
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Autoimmune esophagitis
• Erosive esophagitis
• Caustic esophagitis

Treatment Options for Alcoholic Esophagitis

Treatment for alcoholic esophagitis often involves medication and lifestyle changes.

The three most common medications for alcohol-induced reflux esophagitis are:

• Antacids, such as Tums or Rolaids, which can be purchased over-the-counter 
• Histamine (H2) blockers such as famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine
• Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which can include esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), and pantoprazole (Protonix)

Patients with esophagitis are usually advised to make several lifestyle changes, such as:

• Losing weight
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages
• Not smoking
• Not eating chocolate or peppermint
• Increasing fiber intake
• Eating smaller meals
• Elevating the head of their bed

In severe cases of esophagitis, surgery may be required. 

The most common surgical intervention for esophagitis is called a laparoscopic fundoplication. This procedure requires general anesthesia, but patients can often return home the same day.

Some esophagitis patients may undergo a procedure called a transoral incisionless fundoplication. Unlike the laparoscopic version, which requires the surgeon to make four abdominal incisions, the transoral incisionless version is conducted by entering through the patient’s mouth.

How to Prevent Alcohol Esophagitis

The best way to prevent alcohol esophagitis is to not drink alcohol. Making the other lifestyle changes that we listed in the previous section can also reduce your risk.

In addition to putting you in danger of developing esophagitis, chronic heavy drinking can increase your risk for myriad other health problems, including:

• Esophageal cancer
• Several other cancers
• Heart attack
• Liver disease, including cirrhosis
• Pancreatitis
• Respiratory distress
• Cognitive problems

If you’re unable to quit drinking on your own, please know that help is available and treatment works. When you get effective care from a reputable provider, you can end your alcohol use and build a much healthier life in recovery.

Contact Phoenix Rising Recovery in Palm Springs, California

Phoenix Rising Recovery offers a full continuum of care for adults whose lives have been disrupted by addictions to alcohol and other substances. We also serve clients whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by co-occurring mental health concerns.

When you choose our addiction rehab center in Palm Springs, California, your options will include detox, residential care, and multiple outpatient programs. We’ll help you determine which level of care is right for you, then we’ll develop a customized plan that addresses the full scope of your unique needs.

To learn more about how we can help you, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.

Published: 10/25/2024