More than ever we see advertisements and information that tell us about the effect of acid reflux, the damage it can cause and the complications that can occur which may lead to cancer of the esophagus. Are these claims exaggerated and scaremongering or are they true. The problem is that there are so many causes of acid reflux disease (GERD) and the treatments you can use are also wide and varied. There have been many tests on the long term effects of heartburn and they also are not conclusive and many of the results disagree with each other.
The main symptom of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is heartburn. It can be excruciatingly painful as the acid burns the lining of the esophagus or it can be just mildly discomforting, a burning sensation in the chest. It can also feel like pressure right through the chest and into the back and can be mistaken for a heart attack.
Acid reflux usually occurs due to a weakening of the Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) a ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus which is supposed to stop stomach contents from re-entering the esophagus. Another cause can be if the LES muscles relax at the wrong time allowing reflux. The result being that acid from the stomach can enter the esophagus. The lining of the esophagus has no protection from this and will literally burn. When this happens often the lining becomes scarred and can lead to further problems if not kept in check. So what can be done to prevent this?
The next type of tablet you can take are called h2 antagonist receptors. Histamine is a chemical which stimulates the production of acid in the stomach. The histamine attaches to receptors on the stomach lining which stimulates the acid producing cells into secreting acid. H2 antagonists block the receptors and are very effective in stopping acid production but not for healing the inflammation of the esophagus. They last for up to 12 hours and are best taken about 20 minutes before a meal. Some to choose from are Zantac, Tagamet, and Pepcid.
The newest and strongest drug specifically designed for digestive problems are called Proton Pump Inhibitors PPI,s. These drugs are prescription drugs and are usually given by your doctor when you have been diagnosed as having GERD. PPI,s work by blocking the production of Gastrin a hormone produced in the stomach that also stimulates the cells of the stomach lining to produce acid. They are very effective and will stop stomach acid production from 24 hours and over. They are also very effective in healing the inflammation of the esophagus causes by reflux.
