Skip to main content
GERD

5 Acid Reflux Complications You Can’t Ignore

Brittany DoohanSanjai Sinha, MD
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Updated on April 5, 2025
Featuring Roshini Raj, MDReviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD | April 5, 2025

You've likely experienced heartburn at some point in your life. It affects around 60 million people in the United States at least once a month. While heartburn is a common symptom, frequent acid reflux is not as normal as you think. In fact, frequent heartburn and acid reflux could lead to serious complications.

Getting the proper treatment for acid reflux lowers your risk of getting these complications.

References

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Acid Reflux (GER & GERD) in Adults.

UpToDate. (2022). Patient education: Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease) in adults (Beyond the Basics).

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Brittany Doohan
Written by:
Brittany Doohan
Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Reviewed by:
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.
Green trust check markOur editorial standards
Green trust check markMeet our experts

Was this page helpful?

Latest articles

Voquezna: voquezna dosage-01

Voquezna Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

by Stacia Woodcock, PharmD • Feb 5, 2026
Ozempic: person with heartburn 1496247271

What You Can Do If Ozempic Is Giving You Heartburn

by Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP • Jan 28, 2026
Omeprazole: woman with stomach ache 2167398099

Exploring 9 Alternatives to Omeprazole, From H2 Blockers to Natural Products

by Nathan Williams, PharmD, RYT • Jan 13, 2026
Chest pain: quiz acidrefluxorheartattack-01

Is It Acid Reflux or Heart Attack? Take Our Quiz to Learn More About These Conditions

by Karla Robinson, MD • Dec 22, 2025
Treatments for Acid Reflux and GERD: Understanding Your Options
Video play button

Best Acid Reflux Medicine: Comparing Antacids, H2 Blockers, and Proton Pump Inhibitors

1:53
portrait man coughing-1294431977

The 10 Most Common Causes of a Persistent Dry Cough — and How to Get Rid of It

by Karla Robinson, MD • Oct 29, 2025
Voquezna: woman with stomach ache 2184122689

7 Voquezna Side Effects You Should Know About

by Emma Scholes, PharmD Candidate • Oct 15, 2025
Gut-health: apple cider vinegar on orange background 1774577768

7 Potential Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits for Your Gut Health

by Angela Dunn, MD, MPH • Oct 6, 2025
How to Cope With Famotidine Side Effects
Video play button

Headache, Dizziness, and More: 5 Pepcid Side Effects You Should Know About

1:51
cimetidine: man speaking to pharmacist 2215299364

10 Cimetidine Interactions: Beta Blockers, Metronidazole, and More

by Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD • Sep 17, 2025
Health: GERD: woman with throat pain drinking water 1382357625

The 4 Best Drinks for Esophagitis (Plus, 4 to Avoid)

by Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP • Sep 8, 2025
Mounjaro: adult with heartburn 1498958838

Mounjaro and Heartburn: What’s the Connection?

by Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP • Jul 11, 2025