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Do you know the feeling of heartburn? It is an unpleasant experience you may have been ignoring. If that is truly the case and you haven’t managed to get heartburn under control, stomach acids can irritate the esophagus, the vocal cords, and even the throat. Sometimes these acids can reach the lungs and cause pneumonia or, conversely, painful ulcers. As you have probably discovered, frequent heartburn makes life uncomfortable. How do many of us deal with it? They go to the doctor, who prescribes pills, and people leave the office satisfied with the assumption that the medication finally cured the condition. The most commonly prescribed drugs for heartburn problems are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and this is true worldwide.
Prescription drugs, but also over-the-counter
There is a large number of medications for these problems. Pharmaceutical companies offer both prescription and over-the-counter drugs that help with heartburn. The main reason for heartburn is that stomach acids flow back into the esophagus. Inhibitors — PPIs — reduce the production of stomach acid, and when acids return to the esophagus after taking the drugs, they do not cause heartburn and other pains. But are these drugs really necessary? According to research, up to 70% of people do not need these drugs, which on the contrary can cause serious health disorders. What risks are possible with long-term PPI use?
Kidney disease
A study conducted at John’s Bloomberg School of Health, which had the opportunity to analyze the side effects of PPIs, was carried out on more than 250,000 people. It found that people taking the drugs every day for a long time have up to a 13% higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This condition can manifest as water retention in the body and toxic overload.
Heart disease
Another study conducted at Stanford University found that regular use of PPIs increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 16%. Proton pump inhibitors are an excellent aid in quelling stomach acids, but on the other hand they can also affect the blood vessels themselves: revealed Dr. Nicholas Leeper, cardiologist and professor of surgery. There is a simple explanation. These drugs reduce nitric oxide, which is responsible for relaxing blood vessels. If these vessels constrict, they can cause a heart attack.
Possible fractures
Unfortunately, it has been found that taking heartburn medications can cause osteoporosis, which leads to bone thinning and therefore possible fractures. People who have been taking PPIs for more than seven years should be cautious.
Poor absorption of important nutrients
The body must produce stomach acids so that all nutrients are properly absorbed. If you reduce acids with PPIs, your body may lack important nutrients such as vitamin B12, magnesium, calcium and iron. This can cause:
- anemia
- arrhythmia
- muscle cramps
- depression
- dementia
Take these facts into account and consider making a change. Try, for example, baking soda, which perfectly helps with heartburn and, moreover, does not cause serious illnesses.
