Medication for Heartburn Can Make Acid Reflux WORSE

A free article on Health and Fitness

Medication for Heartburn is INEFFECTIVE Over Time. Find Out the Truth on Heartburn Drugs from an Ex -Heartburn Patient Who's Tried All of Them.

High in popularity at the moment, one of these heartburn medications, Nexium, even got to the position of third-biggest selling drug in the world, racking up over $5.7 billion in 2005. Such classical treatments are often used for relief by millions of people afflicted by the painful symptoms of gastro esophageal disease, the most prevalent of which is no doubt heartburn.

1. The upward trend in the number of GERD (Acid Reflux) patients in the western world is set to continue. There are approximately 25 million acid reflux victims with recurrent heartburn in 2006 alone in America. 2. Drugs for GERD are backed by huge marketing resources, publicity campaigns and by doctors prescribing them to patients. 3. Consumers now obtain such drugs with ease, buying them over the counter where a prescription was required before. About ten years previously, the Food and Drug Administration gave its sign-off for over the counter commerce of Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Zantac 75 and a number of other medicaments also came of the prescription-only list.

Before passing any final judgment on the subject, let's quickly go over the nature of acid reflux disease and heartburn, its most frequent external symptom. With the rising popularity of classical heartburn treatment, the big question when using such remedies is whether such drugs have the desired effects when it comes to eradicating the root causes of this medical problem and if the alleviation is better than the potential secondary effects.

In physiological terms, GERD is the consequence of an excessively high exposure of the esophagus to stomach juices. This problem comes about because of a weakened LES or lower esophageal sphincter. The LES is a circular valve made of muscle closing off the esophagus from the stomach. In cases of acid reflux disease, the LES fails to shut as it should, and stomach content finds its way back into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn. Another factor that degrades conditions for GERD is poor esophageal evacuation of gastric juices.

As well as those local reasons for acid reflux, other causes include genetic characteristics (not under our control) and other hidden factors and co-factors that create the context that encourages acid reflux (i. e. Candida overgrowth, dietary choices, sluggish digestion, emotional stress, inadequate sleep etc.). These underlying factors must be treated. If not, there is no long-term answer for this medical ailment.

Any GERD medication will be one of four kinds:

1. Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer. They bring relief of a few hours by neutralizing acidity in the esophagus. Upon taking the antacid, the neutralization of the stomach acid begins immediately, to prevent corrosion of the esophagus. 2. Alginates act by creating an ark that envelopes the stomach contents to reduce reflux. 3. H2-receptor antagonists such as HB, Zantac 75 and Pepcid AC. By preventing the stomach cells from secreting acid, these drugs stop the gastric system and the stomach from producing acid. H2-receptor antagonists have to be taken prior to any heartburn if relief is to be produced. 4. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) such as Nexium, which prevent the "proton pump" in the stomach cells from working to prevent the release of stomach acid.

In the end, adopting medication as the only solution to treat heartburn is an unsatisfactory approach, only working on the symptoms but missing the root cause of GERD. Neglect of causes such as these can degrade your condition over time and even result in further medical complications. Such treatments for heartburn may also have serious side effects. Headaches, diarrhea and in some cases osteoporosis are among the additional ailments possible. Also, their long-term impact is weak and the chance of physical long-term dependency therefore more pronounced.

Using a holistic agenda, with particular herbal and vitamin elements, and by sticking to a complete set of dietary principles, getting rid of toxins and using Candida control protocols, a natural and lasting cure is available for your medical problem. Now you know that your discomforting and painful heartburn symptoms of GERD can be eradicated in a lasting and holistic way without recourse to medication for heartburn.

Information about the Author: Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . To Learn More About Heartburn Medication Visit: Heartburn Medication Health and Fitness Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

Print This Article Add To Favorites Email to Friends Get Re-print Code

Click the XML Icon for 'Health and Fitness' Articles RSS feed