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Barrett’s esophagus: the signs, the tests, treatment, and day to day
For adults who have had heartburn or acid reflux (GERD) for years, who were just told they have Barrett’s esophagus, whose biopsy showed dysplasia, or who have an endoscopy coming up; and for the people who love them. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the lining of your esophagus changes and becomes more like the lining of your intestine; that it may raise your risk of cancer of the esophagus; and that most people with Barrett’s esophagus do not develop cancer. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs, and when to see a doctor; who is more likely, and dysplasia; upper endoscopy, a biopsy, repeat endoscopy and capsule tests; medicine, treatment during an endoscopy, and surgery; and food, heartburn at night, weight and tobacco. It builds the words to say to a doctor, and prints a card for your endoscopy dates.
Right now
- Vomiting blood, black or bloody stool with dizziness or fainting, or chest pain? Call 911 (ours). Chest pain could be a heart attack. Do not drive yourself.
- Trouble swallowing, losing weight without trying, signs of bleeding, or vomiting that will not stop? NIDDK says to see your doctor.
- Taking medicine for acid every day and thinking of stopping? Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits first (NIDDK).
- It is all too much, or you are thinking of ending your life? Call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- Heartburn and the stomach, on this site: Heartburn and acid reflux (GERD) · Peptic ulcers · Bleeding in the digestive tract · An upset stomach: find the right page.
- Chest pain: When it might be a heart attack.
- Lowering your risk, and hard news: When you want to quit smoking · When the doctor says cancer.
- Day to day: My medicines list · Symptom diary · Get ready for your appointment.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When a medical bill is too much.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
An upset stomach, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for throwing up, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 17, 2026 on NIDDK’s Barrett’s Esophagus pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition, all last reviewed in August 2024. NIDDK has no Spanish version of these pages; our Spanish page is our own translation. NIDDK names one kind of medicine, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs); we name no single medicine or brand. Ours: 911 for vomiting blood, black or bloody stool with dizziness or fainting, or chest pain; seeing a doctor for years of heartburn; asking before stopping a daily acid medicine; keeping a copy of each biopsy report and the dates; the quitline numbers (as on our quit-smoking page); the endoscopy card; 988 when it is too much; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: medicine names, doses, research studies, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.