Advanced Physical Assessment Exam 1 Practice

Esophageal stricture is a potential complication of untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because the repeated exposure of the esophagus to stomach acid can lead to inflammation and damage to the esophageal lining. Over time, this chronic inflammation can result in the development of scar tissue, which narrows the esophagus and leads to a stricture. Symptoms of an esophageal stricture can include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), pain when swallowing, and food getting stuck in the esophagus.

In contrast, while hypertension, lung cancer, and obesity can be associated with various health issues, they are not direct complications of untreated GERD. Hypertension is primarily related to cardiovascular factors, lung cancer is associated with smoking and other risk factors rather than reflux, and obesity is often a contributing factor for GERD but not a direct complication resulting from untreated reflux disease.