Another side effect of chronic heartburn is a condition known as Barrett's esophagus, which happens when there's a change in the cells of the tissuelining the bottom of the esophagus.
When it is damaged -- sometimes congenitally, or as result of disease, pelvic fractures or other traumas -- it is usually replaced using tissue harvested from the lining of a patient's cheeks or using skin grafted from another area of the body, according to Atala.