Can Aciphex bring any true relief to victims of heartburn? In the following article, a former heartburn patient tells the tragic truth about Aciphex, after having compared with many alternative solutions. As an Over The Counter medicament against heartburn, Aciphex is known by millions. Sales per annum of this drug topped $1.3 billion (figures from 2006).
About 1 in 5 of all adults in America and Western Europe are afflicted by recurring heartburn. The name comes from the sensation of burning and pain in the throat of the chest, especially after eating a meal. Even if healthy individuals can experience occasional heartburn as well, recurrent heartburn (every two or three days) may be a sign of acid reflux, or to give it its full name, GERD - gastro esophageal reflux disease.
Acid reflux causing the pain of heartburn occurs because of weakness of a stomach sphincter. It can lead to inflammation of the esophageal lining (esophagitis) and difficulties in swallowing, internal hemorrhages, esophageal constriction and Barrett's esophagus, often a precursor to cancer. GERD is brought on by a muscle between the esophagus and the stomach not working correctly. This muscle is the lower esophageal sphincter and should normally block off the esophagus from the stomach to stop acid and juices backing up into the esophagus.
Aciphex tries to target the acidity as a solution to reduce acid reflux symptoms including heartburn. This is just one of two factors provoking acid reflux. Besides excessive stomach acidity, the other one is weakness of the esophageal sphincter.
Halting the production of stomach acid is the hallmark of the group of PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors). PPIs do this by "dismantling" the proton pump, which is what the stomach uses to fabricate acid. Aciphex is a member of the PPI group, developed to treat acid reflux symptoms, and which also contains Prevacid, Protonix and Prilosec.
Nonetheless, the real reason for acid reflux lies elsewhere. Aciphex is only concentrating on the feeling of heartburn. When the real reason is neglected, it will continue to produce the symptom and this may even result in drug dependency and even bigger problems of acid reflux. Even if it may be true that almost instant relief is brought by Aciphex and other PPIs, downsides are also part of the equation? In particular, because gastric acid aids digestion and kills certain invasive bacteria and viruses, deliberately stifling its production may be unwise.
An astonishing conclusion was made from the role of gastric acid in killing off pathogens that enter the mouth and travel down the esophagus. Without stomach acid, these microbes can then return up the esophagus to double back down into the lungs and provoke pneumonia. If this was not already bad enough, recent research shows that PPI medications can generated other unwanted secondary effects. The possible increases in the risk of pneumonia was just one conclusion from Dutch research done in 2004.
In Great Britain, studies just done indicate that patients using PPI medicaments for over a year and over the age of 50, were 44% more at risk of breaking a hip than acid reflux patients not using PPIs (these PPIs include Aciphex, Protonix, Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec). The same artificial blocking of stomach acid also interfered with the absorption of calcium and therefore with the correct bone mineral density which led to osteoporosis.
The right holistic approach will allow you to put GERD behind you forever and safely prevent it from ever coming back. Were you aware that heartburn and its painful sensations can now be a thing of the past without having to take Aciphex or any similar medicament?
Author Resource:-
Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . To Learn More About Jeff Martins Unique Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Acid Reflux Treatment
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