We are a generation of quick fixes, looking for instant relief from our ailments and often times getting it thanks to profit minded pharmaceutical companies. This convenience, however, often has a steep price. Quick fix drugs may relieve our symptoms, but they really do not do anything about the underlying problems.  Instead of taking time to fix the hole the canoe, we are content with bailing out the water. By treating the symptom and not the cause, drug companies reap enormous profits and keep us in the dark about the problems that may develop from long term use of their so called cures.

Symptoms evolved so that bodies to let us know that something is wrong in a certain area. What drug companies do not want you to know is that. When there is something seriously wrong with our intestinal tract, we experience symptoms like nausea, heartburn, acid indigestion, gas, cramps, diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms are a way for our body to tell us that we need to change our lifestyle and eating habits and when we ignore them we end up suffering even more in the long run.

Acid reflux is not really a disease, but a cry for help from your body. When we ignore the underlying cause of acid reflux and take only seek quick relief from it, the symptoms will only keep coming.  We are forced to keep shelling out money to the drug companies in order to make the pain go away. We become relief junkies and the fixes that we get from the drug companies end up harming us even more than the original problem.

Let us take a brief look at some of the more popular treatment for Acid reflux and see how they work and what their various side effects are.

Antacids

Antacids deplete the acid that exists within your digestive system which keeps your acid reflux at bay and lulls your into a false sense of security. Antacids also block mineral absorbtion which can make the body vulnerable to many diseases like cancer and depression. Many antacids also contain aluminum. Aluminum absorption has been linked to early senility and memory loss.

H2 blockers

H2 blockers reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces, sometimes even stopping the production altogether. Tagamet (cimetidine), Zantac (ranitidine), Axid (nizatidine), Pepcid (fanotidine), and Mylanta AR (famotidine) are some of the most popular H2 Blockers on the mqrket today. These drugs ability to cease normal body function that we saw fit to evolve over time, is seen a major cause for concern. H2 blockers also vie with the body for important detoxification enzymes which allows poisons to accumulate and eventually destroy vital organs. Diarrhea is another possible side effect as is an increased blood alcohol absorption rate ( one drink feel like two or three).

H2 Blockers do not affect everyone in the same way. Some people will experience no side effects whatsoever; well others will show sensitivity to them almost immediately.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton Pump Inhibitors stop the stomach from producing acid altogether curtailing normal stomach function. This ultra strong acid blocker is available by prescription only and is sold under the brand names Prilosec (omeprazole) and Prevacid ( IAnsoprazole). Normal side effects include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gas, constipation, reflux acid, head aches, back pain and hair loss. More serious side effects that could happen when you take Prilosec are the development of cancerous tumors in the gut, fatal pancreatitis, necrosis (liver rot) and even a condition called epidermal necrolysis in which your skin first becomes red and scaly then peels off.  Proton Pump Inhibitors can also stop blood cell production, and like H2 Blockers they can, keep your body from cleansing itself of other toxins.

When you choose these drugs over natural treatments for heartburn, there is a chance that you might turn off other stomach functions which controls the absorption of B 12 vitamins.  This in turn can accelerate arteriosclerosis, depression and lead to fatigue, numbness, tingling and other nerve dysfunctions.  You could also increase the impact of a chronic disease which can lead to early aging, cataracts, painful neuropathy and even a heart attack.

Other Findings

Using artificial acid reflux prevention can also hinder the body’s ability to absorb calcium in an efficient manner leading to osteoporosis and poor bone density. Research in the UK showed that people who were over 50 and had been using Proton Pump Inhibitors for the past year had a 44% greater chance of breaking a hip.

While stomach acid can be a nuisance, it is also an important function of out digestive system. It helps kill fungi, viruses and bacteria as well as provides a medium for the absorption of minerals, the digestion of food and the regulation of PH. These are all functions that we need in order to stay healthy. There better ways to beat acid reflux naturally than relying on these quick fixes.