Acid Reflux and Nexium: Are You Positive that This is the Correct Combination for You?

Do you have concerns relating to the Acid Reflux and Nexium mixture? You're not by yourself. Numerous folks feel the same way.

MSNBC reports that this past year we US citizens spent nine hundred and forty two million dollars for antacids and thirteen.six billion dollars on prescribed acid suppressants. Huge sums of money in anyone's opinion, you do agree, don't you?

Do you think the drug companies are laughing all the way the bank? One can only imagine! Commercials and advertisements are everywhere it seems. They are trying to get you to "buy in" to the idea that you need all these prescription or over the counter drugs to alleviate your acid reflux, GERD, and problems with your indigestion.

Have you ever wondered what the most prescribed drugs in the US are? Would it surprise you that drugs that suppress your stomach acid are close to the top of the list?

A myriad of people consume these drugs on a daily basis trying to get their discomfort relieved. The next logical question should be "Is this really necessary"?

The only way to answer that is to take a closer look at some of these drugs.

They fall under 2 primary categories:

PPI's (Proton Pump Inhibitors):

Included are Nexium and ones like it (Prilosec, Aciphex, and Protonix), just to mention a few.

They are designed to halt the enzymes that carry acid from the cells that release said acid into the stomach's lining.

H2 Blockers:

Most of these you are probably familiar with. They are Zantac, Pepcid, Tagamet (naming just a few once again). Their job is to stop the histamine process in the stomach. Histamine energizes the stomach cells to develop additional acid.

While each drug classification has the possibility of being helpful in relieving your ordinary heartburn and the pain in your abdomen, the side effects can be much worse than the original pain. What? You haven't thought about those? Let's discuss just a few of the long term effects. Also make a quick note that this is just a quick list of things that can happen.

Increased risk of hip fractures.
Most likely induced by diminished calcium absorption.

A greater chance of developing an infection in your intestines caused by food.

A greater danger of bacterial overgrowth both in your intestines and stomach.

The above provides an explanation about the following risks:

Pneumonia

Cancer of the stomach

A deficiency of vitamin B12

When you suffer from Acid Reflux (gastroesophageal reflux of GER for short), the contents in your stomach force their way (reflux) up into your esophagus and in some cases, clear into your mouth.

There are quite a few Acid Reflux symptoms, but we will just list a few.

Pain in your chest

Regurgitation of food

Heartburn

Sore throat pain

A hoarseness in your throat

Cough

You know, physicians prescribe each kind of acid suppressor, but the "kicker" is that Acid Reflux (GER) isn't caused by too much acid. What causes you might ask? The failure or weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter (or LES for short) valve. This valve's only purpose is to open when we swallow our food and liquid and then close again quickly to keep the stomach contents in. It resides where the esophagus and stomach meets.

Only you can decide if the acid reflux and nexium combination is right for you or not, but at least now you
have the facts.