Is your antacid causing more digestion problems?
Are you among the millions of adults who suffer from uncomfortable stomach and digestive problems such as gas, bloating, heartburn and indigestion? It is likely that you are taking an antacid to deal with these symptoms. Antacid use is so prevalent that in 2009, Nexium was the second-best selling prescription drug, and Prevacid was the tenth in America.
Antacids are prescribed under the false assumption that your digestive issues are being caused by an excess of stomach acid. The truth is just the opposite. Most Americans (especially over the age of 40).
Healthy levels of hydrochloric acid (HCL) are essential for your health. HCL is necessary for the absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, B12, and zinc. The proper digestion of proteins will not occur without HCL. It is also important in the prevention of food allergies and gastrointestinal infection.
When you have low HCL and take an antacid, you are entering a vicious cycle. It starts like this: You have low HCL in your stomach and are not properly breaking down your meal. Incomplete digestion leads to irritation in your digestive system such as heartburn or acid reflux. You take an antacid to deal with these symptoms, and now you have even lower HCL than when you started. The vicious cycle continues.
Long-term antacid use is causing some disturbing health conditions. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study in 2006 showing that patients using proton pump inhibitors (patent medications that totally shut off stomach acid production) have a significantly higher risk of a hip fracture. JAMA published a study in 2004 showing the increased risk of community-acquired pneumonia with the use of gastric acid-suppressive drugs. There are many other studies suggesting that acid-suppressing drugs contribute to macular degeneration, dementia, osteoporosis and food allergies.
As usual, correcting the source of the problem (low HCL) with better diet choices and supplements will lead to much better results.
For more information, email Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.