Health experts have warned of a 50% surge in heartburn and acid reflux complaints over the last decade, and believe that obesity and fatty diets are the driving force behind it.
Researchers from Norway, Sweden and King’s College London discovered that the proportion of people suffering from reflux rose from 11.6% in 1995-1997 to 17.1% in 2006-2009.
Scientists also found that women and middle-aged people are more at risk of suffering severe symptoms such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Health experts are concerned as reflux can trigger oesophageal cancer, a cancer that is on the rise. “The increasing prevalence of acid reflux is alarming, because it will most likely contribute to the increasing incidence of cancer of the oesophagus,” says a researcher from the study.
Heartburn and reflux currently effect as many as one in five people and Europe has the highest rate of oesophageal cancer in the world, contributing to 7,606 deaths in the UK alone, according to Cancer Research UK.
Experts are urging people to reduce fatty foods from their diet, as well as alcohol consumption and smoking.
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