News: Acid Reflux Pills Related to Increased Fracture Risk

(NewsInferno.com - 12 Aug 2008) - We have been reporting on drugs such as Prilosec and Nexium—part of a class of drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPIs—that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated for a suspected link between cardiac trouble and PPIs.  Also, because such drugs may be overly effective at stopping stomach acid production, they have been know to raise pneumonia, bone loss, and fracture risk; this, by over 40 percent in patients on long-term use.

Now, a new Canadian study of PPIs such as Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix and osteoporosis-related fractures has revealed a link between long-term use of PPis and increased risk for such fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.  The link appeared in patients taking PPIs after about seven years.  PPI drug makers claim they haven’t seen increased osteoporosis-related fracture risk in people using their products.

The study included about 63,000 adults aged 50 and older in Manitoba, Canada, and also included about 15,300 patients who sustained an osteoporosis-related fracture of the hip, spine, or wrist from 1996 to 2004.  The researchers, including University of Manitoba’s Laura Targownik, MD, MSHS, also reviewed participants’ prescription records and found that those who received an osteoporosis-related fracture were nearly twice as likely to have taken a PPI for at least seven years; those on PPIs for six or less were not linked to fracture risk.  Those with hip fractures were 62% more likely to have used a PPI for at least five years.

It remains unclear how PPIs might increase fracture risk, but some experts believe it may be related to their stomach acid inhibiting qualities.  Targownik’s team speculates that PPIs speed up bone mineral loss; however, the study doesn’t prove this.  Also, the researchers considered a variety of other factors, including participants’ other prescriptions, medical history, and income.

Meanwhile, long-term PPI use and fracture risk have been linked in previous research and that association “is certainly a strong basis for encouraging further investigation,” write the editorialists, who included J. Brent Richards, MD, of Canada’s McGill University.  “Certainly, at one extreme, such as in patients with bleeding ulcers, the beneficial effects may far outweigh the risks associated with fractures,” the editorial states. “At the other extreme, liberal prescription of proton pump inhibitors for nebulous disorders for extended periods of time is likely worth revisiting.”

Targownik’s study doesn’t specify which PPIs the patients took.  AstraZeneca, maker of Nexium responded, “AstraZeneca does not agree with the conclusion of the CMAJ study,” said spokeswoman Corey Windett   Judee Shuler, senior director of corporate communications for Eisai Inc., maker of Aciphex, said the results “warrant further study, as these fractures are important medical issues that can occur for a variety of reasons.

According to an editorial published along with the study and that appeared in the Canadian Medical Association’s journal, CMAJ , additional research is needed.  Until then, they suggest patients and their doctors reevaluate the risks and benefits of long-term PPI use.

Learn GERD Triggers and Avoid Heartburn

When it comes to preventative action, you need to learn GERD triggers that affect your body the most and cause your symptoms to become aggravated. There are many different theories on the cause of acid reflux – but the majority focus on the behaviors and condition of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES - a valve-like muscle which is located at the top of the stomach where the esophagus and the stomach meet).

Acid reflux tends to occur when the LES valve is functioning abnormally and allowing stomach acids, pancreatic digestive juices, bile salts, and even food to rise up into the esophagus. Such abnormal functioning can include a lower-than-normal pressure in the valve, or it may open at inappropriate times for some reason.

If you have a condition called a hiatal hernia, your sphincter may have displaced into your chest, causing it to function abnormally. When acid reflux occurs and the aforementioned substances rise up to the level of the esophageal lining; severe irritation and discomfort usually follows.

There are many different kinds of triggers that can set off these irritations and symptoms. If you experience acid reflux, you should be aware of the various common GERD triggers so that you know what to do to prevent is recurrence. Such triggers can include the following, which cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and therefore contribute to the worsening of its symptoms:

• Lifestyle – many different lifestyle choices can cause you to experience heartburn, so take note of the GERD unfriendly activities in your life to allow yourself the opportunity to correct them and ease your symptoms. These unfriendly activities may include drinking alcohol, smoking, being overweight or obese, and slouching or maintaining poor posture. Living a high-stress lifestyle is also among the most common contributors to aggravating acid reflux symptoms.

====>> How Diet and Lifestyle actually Cause Your Heartburn.

• Diet – many foods are known to lead to acid reflux symptoms. Foods to avoid include high-acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, spicy foods, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, sulfuric foods such as garlic and onions, and mint flavorings.

====>> Heartburn Acid Reflux Diet: Acid Reflux Dietary Principles

• Eating Habits – beyond the food you’re eating, your eating habits can also encourage or discourage heartburn. GERD eating habit triggers include eating large infrequent meals instead of several smaller meals, sudden dietary change, and eating before lying down or sleeping instead of waiting two or three hours.

• Medications – sometimes the drugs you’re taking for other conditions can aggravate your acid reflux symptoms. Drugs known for encouraging heartburn are theophylline (Tedral, Marax, Hydrophed, Bronchial, and Quibron), calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, and nitrates.

====>>Medication Can Make Your Acid Reflux Worse

• Health Conditions – these can include many different kinds of medical, health, and body conditions, such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain, diabetes, the release of certain hormones, a hiatal hernia, or even over-exercising.

To learn, simply click here: Cure Your Heartburn

How Can Apple Cider Vinegar Can Treat Acid Reflux Problem?

We know that vinegar is acidic and cause more problems to people who have heartburn acid reflux problem. However there is only one vinegar not only the heartburn sufferers can take and it is actually a natural acid reflux remedy which you can east all symptoms during the day.

WOW! That is Apple Cider Vinegar!

Read more about The Connection Between Vinegar and Heartburn...

Apple Cider Vinegar is vinegar made from crushed and aged apples known as cider. When unfiltered, Apple Cider Vinegar has a brownish-yellow color. Unfiltered cider vinegar, also known as organic apple cider vinegar, contains what is known as the “mother of vinegar” or simply the “mother”. The mother looks like stringy floating globs in the liquid, and is where all of the healing properties of Apple Cider Vinegar reside.

Apple Cider Vinegar contains minerals, as well as trace elements including magnesium, chlorine phosphorous, sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, fluorine and silicon. Due of all of its beneficial ingredients, Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural fighter of bacteria, which often makes it a beneficial vinegar acid reflux treatment choice.

How can Apple Cider Vinegar benefit acid reflux sufferers? You may be confused as to how a type of vinegar could be beneficial for treating acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn. After all, doesn’t vinegar have a high acid content? Wouldn’t cider vinegar just exacerbate the problem? Surprisingly, for most acid reflux sufferers, Apple Cider Vinegar helps to relieve the burning sensation and nausea caused by reflux without adding to it.

Why?

Many people with digestive problems like acid reflux, experience problems not because they have too much acid, but because they have too little. Apple Cider Vinegar mimics the acid level of the stomach, which aids in the proper digestion of food, and can help aid the stomach in digesting.

Therefore, in some cases, vinegar acid reflux remedies for heartburn work more effectively than antacids, because although antacids will cure heartburn, they are designed to diminish acid within the system. Thus, antacids will not treat the actual cause if acid reflux is the result of too little stomach acid, and instead can make reflux more frequent.

How should you take apple cider vinegar? Apple Cider Vinegar is available in many forms including liquid, tablet and capsule. However, when using Apple Cider Vinegar as a natural treatment, the only form you should obtain is the organic liquid that contains the “mother” enzyme.

When taking Apple Cider Vinegar, you will first want to shake it well before you ingest it to disperse the mother throughout the liquid. To start, try taking one tablespoon of cider vinegar before each meal. You will likely find the taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar to be quite potent. It is an acquired taste, and you should grow more accustomed to the flavor after the first few vinegar acid reflux treatments.

Nevertheless, should you find it too repellant, there are a few other ways you can take Apple Cider Vinegar such as:
- Mix a tablespoon in a fat free salad dressing or light mayonnaise and eat it with your meal
- Sprinkle a tablespoon on salad or vegetables
- Mix a tablespoon in an 8 oz. glass of water and add a bit of honey to sweeten the drink.
- Make a tea out of ACV by adding a tablespoon of the cider vinegar to hot water and slowly sipping it.

Although it is best to ingest apple cider vinegar prior to each meal, you can also take a tablespoon when your stomach is upset or heartburn acts up.

After taking apple cider vinegar for a few days, many acid reflux sufferers find that their symptoms improve, and continue to improve with treatment in the months that follow. However, in addition, you should be aware that Apple Cider Vinegar has a few mild side effects including stomach upset. Furthermore, Apple Cider Vinegar may worsen heartburn in some individuals. It is also known to thin the blood and should be avoided by anyone taking blood thinning medications such as anti-coagulants.

===> Testimonials of Old Folk Remedy: Apple CiderVinegar

Always remember that you should speak to your doctor first before starting any treatment, including vinegar acid reflux treatment, and keep in mind that natural treatment should not replace any medication or treatment advice that has been prescribed by your doctor without prior consultation.

To Learn More about it...

Click Here : Stop Acid Reflux NOW!

Change Your Diet To Combat Heartburn Symptoms

One of the best way to control your heartburn acid reflux symptoms is to get yourself onto a heartburn acid reflux friendly diet. Initially, it seems difficult to give up some of your favorite foods. The thought that heartburn acid reflux symptoms is just mere inconvenience, you may just continue with your current lifestyle. If you leave it untreated, it may lead to more or even complicated problem like GERD or even cancer.



Here are some suggestions you can consider for modify your diet.



Milk: When indigestion strikes, many reach for milk to soothe the stomach. No doubt, milk has a calming affect for many people, it is not necessarily a good choice in your diet if you suffer from acid reflux.

Drinking a glass of milk before bedtime is a common habit as milk can induce sleep. But, when you sleep, milk can encourage your body to churn out more acid, leading to painful reflux symptoms. If you wish to drink milk, you should have it earlier in the day. Should you really wish to have some milk at night, how about drinking a small glass and accompany it with some bread or any other high carbohydrate type of food. This will speed up digestion and reduce the potential of developing acid reflux symptoms.



Fats: Do you know that fatty foods take longer time to digest and that encourages your body to produce more acid to digest those fats? If you still like to have some fatty food, eat only a small portion. Take note that any fats may slow digestion, and if your reflux is flaring, avoid them as much as you can.



Fried Foods: Eating fried foods, whether deep-fried or stir fried, is a common acid reflux trigger for many people. Getting people to give up fried foods is the toughest because fried foods tend tend to be many people's favorite dishes. Instead of frying most of your food, you can try out heartburn-friendly cooking techniques like grill, broil, bake. May be the foods won't taste as good as fried, but you'll find more satisfying because they help you to minimize the likelihood of triggering an acid reflux episode.



===> Learn more about Heartburn-Friendly Cooking Techiques



Carbonated Drinks: Soft drinks or sodas like Coke, 7-up are a popular choice of beverages among many people. Unfortunately, for heartburn acid reflux sufferers it is advisable not consume them at all. The gas in these drinks can contribute to burping, and can encourage acid to reflux into the esophagus. If you must drink soda, the best way is to allow it go flat before drinking to reduce the impact of the carbonation. As you know drinking a flat soda, it is no different from drinking a flavored drink without bubbling gas. Furthermore, most sodas contain caffeine which is another common heartburn acid reflux trigger. The best beverage to have is still the plain water.



Fruit: There are some fruits and fruit juices you should avoid in your new diet. Most citrus fruits like orange and pineapple can stimulate acid production, and are common triggers. The acidic juice can bring on flare ups of acid reflux. Instead of having orange and pineapple, you can eat fruits that are not in the citrus category. How about trying bananas or berries or papayas and monitor your symptoms. You don’t have to give up all fruits, but you may have to be more selective when choosing.



===> Learn more about Can Papaya Help to Remedy Heartburn



Thus, by taking steps to make some adjustments to your diet for better heartburn acid reflux control, and to also make other lifestyles changes, this helps to minimize future health risks and your need to take prescription medications multiple times a year. Isn't this a wise choice?



If you are interested in a more natural method of overcoming your acid reflux symptoms instead of popping pills, please CLICK Below:

How To Relief From Acid Reflux

Heartburn acid reflux is a very common health problem for many people worldwide. Thus, you are not alone.

Here is a video that illustrate how you relieve yourself from heartburn acid reflux


Another important factor that you must look into is your diet. Do you know which types of you food will trigger off your heartburn causing your discomfort?

There is a well-written article about the types of food you should avoid in order not to trigger your acid reflux symptoms.

=====> What Types of Heartburn Foods to Avoid?

Also there is a latest update on dietary changes for GERD and acid reflux patients. Click here for more details - Dietary Changes and GERD / Acid Reflux: The Latest Research