| A prominent medical study in 2007 found that all | | | | taking reflux drugs, these may prevent you from |
| common acid reflux prescriptions, including Nexium, | | | | absorbing any calcium from these supplements, as |
| Prevacid and Prilosec make hip fractures far more | | | | well. At a minimum, it's worth finding out, in |
| likely. Nearly 50% more hip fractures occurred after | | | | consultation with your doctor, whether taking |
| just one year of taking the most effective "proton | | | | substantial calcium supplements will allow you reduce |
| pump inhibitor" drugs! 17190895 (Reference number, | | | | your dosage of reflux drugs such as PPIs, or help |
| see below) This is shocking news, because one in | | | | you withdraw from them. If reflux drugs are indeed |
| five people dies after a hip fracture, according to Dr. | | | | addicting, then only being off them for some time, |
| David Forcione; and it can be presumed that the risk | | | | during which calcium can be replaced; will tell you if |
| becomes greater with every year that reflux drugs | | | | you truly still need them. You should expect a |
| are taken. It now seems that reflux drugs, which act | | | | transition period during which reflux is more noticeable |
| by limiting the acid we produce, thereby limit the | | | | because it's now more acidic, before things get |
| amount of calcium we absorb (calcium reacts with | | | | better. Take a probiotic as a precaution, because |
| acids), imperiling our bones to a startling degree. | | | | your digestive system may need a whole new kind |
| Yet both the new and old drugs do not stop reflux, | | | | of bacteria to deal with a more acid enviroment, and |
| heartburn, or GERD since reflux is "primarily a motor | | | | because probiotics have been recommended as a |
| disorder." 15729198 They only reduce the amount of | | | | treatment for acid reflux symptoms. |
| acid within the fluids that come up. Also, older drugs | | | | Do consider the possibility that your reflux is being |
| were found to thin bones less only insofar as they | | | | caused by other medications you are taking. Asthma |
| were less effective in reducing acid in the first place, | | | | medication, anti-depressants and aspirin-class NSAID |
| so switching back to such drugs as Zantac doesn't | | | | painkillers can all cause reflux, and taking female |
| help you avoid osteoporosis any more than reducing | | | | hormones may do so. Also, any drug which is a |
| the dosage of the more recent drugs would. | | | | sedative or tranquillizer may slow the peristaltic |
| But there may be worse news hidden in this new | | | | waves within the esophagus that clear food. Lose |
| study. It may even be that the most profound and | | | | weight if you can, since extra pounds worsen reflux. |
| common long-term side-effect of reflux drugs is... | | | | Other ways of helping acid reflux: |
| worse reflux over time! This is because calcium is | | | | |
| essential in controlling reflux, not just neutralizing the | | | | 1. Make sure you are getting enough fiber, since this |
| acids in it. Calcium seems to increase gut mobility | | | | also helps intestinal mobility. |
| 15628717 and have anti-inflammatory action as well | | | | 2. Raise the head of your bed a few inches, and do |
| as immediately neutralizing acids. 17201221 So if | | | | not use abdominal muscles when you rise from bed - |
| modern acid reflux medications are indeed reducing | | | | roll onto your left side and use your uppermost arm |
| our calcium intake, then more and worse reflux may | | | | to raise your upper body. |
| be an all-too predicable consequence of taking those | | | | 3. Be certain to drink a full glass of water after taking |
| drugs for long periods. These drugs may actually be | | | | any medication, as this limits damage to the |
| helping to cause the problem they are being | | | | esophagus. |
| prescribed to cure. | | | | 4. Exercise! Short term strenuous exercise can cause |
| Calcium and magnesium are a common treatment for | | | | reflux, but as you learn to "isolate" abdominal muscles |
| acid reflux, and not just because the calcium we've | | | | and not clench them unnecessarily as you move (a |
| just eaten combines with acid to neutralize it in the | | | | lot easier as other muscles such as leg muscles |
| stomach. The calcium available in our body also helps | | | | become stronger) you'll have far less reflux. |
| us to deal with stomach acid in reflux by being | | | | 5. Limit smoking, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and |
| released and neutralizing it, as well as improving gut | | | | tobacco and if you do take them, try to do so only |
| mobility and more. Therefore taking calcium long | | | | in the morning, since these stimulants may possibly |
| before an episode of acid reflux helps, but only if the | | | | cause reflux by altering the stomach and intestine's |
| calcium is absorbed, needless to say; and current acid | | | | daily cycles. The good news is that if you've |
| reflux medications are helping to prevent that. If over | | | | improved these habits since you started taking reflux |
| time we have less calcium in our body thanks to | | | | drugs, the only thing now causing your reflux, might |
| reflux drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or older | | | | be the acid relux drugs themselves! |
| drugs such as Zantac, still worse reflux months or | | | | 6. describes some of our daily rhythms and new |
| years later may be a likely result. Sadly, the new | | | | knowledge about how to optimize them. Since jet lag |
| finding about hip fractures may also explain why so | | | | can cause reflux, it is wise to establish a healthy |
| many people who start taking acid reflux drugs end | | | | rhythm of day and night, with sufficient darkness, |
| up staying on them year after year, and even | | | | and this site will tell you how to do this, including |
| decade after decade. | | | | some tips based on new research you won't have |
| Other conditions can also be strongly affected by | | | | heard of, including using only red light if you need to |
| calcium deficiency, including epilepsy, anxiety, and | | | | get up in the middle of the night. |
| muscle spasms. So combining reflux medication with | | | | Reference numbers such as 17190895 are "PMID"s. |
| these conditions may not be advised. It is also known | | | | Copy them into the search box at the government |
| that low acid interferes with natural B-12 absorption. | | | | web site to retrieve an abstract of the relevant |
| So what to do if you have reflux? The first thing: | | | | medical research study. |
| take all the calcium and B-12 you should (which for | | | | (This article was first published on January 15, 2007 |
| almost everyone means taking calcium/magnesium | | | | and last revised Feb 2, 2007. |
| supplements). Note, however, that if you are still | | | | |