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At the bottom of the oesophagus is a one way valve, called the lower oesophageal sphincter, which opens to let food and fluid into the stomach and then closes again to prevent stomach contents refluxing back up into the lower oesophagus.
This reflux occurs commonly and in some people causes symptoms which include heartburn, acid at the back of the throat, excess saliva, nausea (sickness). Other presentations of reflux can include chronic cough.
In some people this reflux of acid and other stomach contents into the lower oesophagus leads to changes in the cells lining the oesophagus and Barrett’s oesophagus develops.
Some of you with Barrett’s may say, “well I don’t get any reflux symptoms so why have I got Barrett’s?”
Interestingly, you can still get significant reflux with no symptoms. In addition patients with Barrett’s can be relatively insensitive to the acid and not feel it as much. Everyone’s response to pain is different.