The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Acid Reflux
Is It Possible To Make America Healthy Again?
Dennis Miller, R.Ph., likes RFK, Jr.'s efforts to blame processed foods for chronic disease. Will his initiative make America healthy again?
Getting Off Prilosec Is a Challenge but Reduces the Risk of Recurrent C Diff Infection
People taking acid-suppressing drugs are at higher risk for repeated intestinal infections with Clostridium difficile, aka C diff.
Do Doctors Know How to Help Patients Stop Medications?
Why don't drug companies, doctors or the FDA tell patients how to stop medications? This is a problem with benzos, antidepressants and PPIs.
PPIs are Safe! No, PPIs are Dangerous! What to Believe?
PPI confusion continues. One study suggests that PPIs are linked to serious adverse events. Then we are told PPIs are safe! What's going on?
Show 1360: The Pros & Perils of OTC Drugs
In this live radio show, get answers to your questions about the safety and effectiveness of OTC drugs. Can you trust them?
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Your Heartburn?
Can you cure your heartburn with baking soda or vinegar? Changing the way you eat might be more effective in calming reflux long term.
Doctors Deny That PPIs Can Cause Kidney Damage
PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) suppress stomach acid, relieve heartburn and heal ulcers. But research reveals PPIs can cause kidney damage.
PPIs and Kidney Damage | Nephrologist Spanks GI Doc
GI docs love proton pump inhibitors. Is there a link between PPIs and kidney damage? The maker of Prilosec and Nexium will pay $425 million!
Do You Swallow a Spoonful of Mustard for Heartburn? Curcumin vs. PPIs
New research shows that curcumin (from turmeric) is as effective as the PPI omeprazole. Is that why a spoonful of mustard can ease heartburn?
Multiple Strategies Are Needed for Stopping Heartburn Drugs without Pain
Stopping heartburn drugs like Nexium can lead to rebound acid. Gradually tapering the dose along with natural approaches help.
Why Popular Heartburn Drugs PPIs Are Linked to Premature Deaths
Acid-suppressing drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are go-to drugs for heartburn. Should you be concerned that PPIs are linked to premature deaths?
Getting Off Omeprazole Can Be Challenging!
Many remedies can help with the challenge of getting off omeprazole by easing the symptoms of rebound reflux. Can famotidine (Pepcid) help?
Show 1292: Natural Ways to Treat Heartburn (Archive)
Although PPIs like omeprazole are immensely popular, there are natural ways to treat heartburn. Tune in to the broadcast 3/11/23 to learn more.
Can You Get Off a PPI Without Suffering Heartburn?
Readers found ways to get off a PPI without withdrawal symptoms: Eat just one low-carb meal a day to reduce discomfort, or take psyllium.
Can Taking a Probiotic Product Help You Sleep Better?
A reader found that taking a probiotic product for better digestion also improved sleep. Studies support this observation.
Show 1316: Protecting Your Digestive Tract
What questions do you have about protecting your digestive tract? On 9/24/22, we'll talk with gastroenterologist Nick Shaheen in a live Q&A.
How Hot Peppers Can Improve Your Health and Extend Your Life
Do you like spicy food? If so, you may be adding years to your life! Learn about the health benefits and anti-cancer activity of hot peppers.
How to Help Acid Reflux Without a PPI
As the list of PPI side effects has grown longer and scarier, readers want a way to control heartburn symptoms without taking a PPI.
Can Treated Licorice (DGL) Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome may be explained by an imbalance in gut microbes. One reader reports DGL helped ease IBS symptoms.
Are the Health Benefits of Buttermilk Like Those of Yogurt?
The health benefits of buttermilk and yogurt both derive in part from vitamins, minerals and probiotic bacteria in their cultures.
Show 1224: What Is the Best Way to Manage Your Heartburn? (Archive)
Learn the best way to manage your heartburn without relying too heavily on PPI drugs like Nexium or Prilosec. Does diet help?
Dr. Marvin Singh Tells You How to Establish Healthy Gut Balance
Dr. Marvin Singh, integrative gastroenterologist, offers insights on how to recover a healthy gut balance after it has been disrupted.
Show 1179: What Should You Do About Digestive Distress? (Archive)
Listen to find out when your digestive distress might signal a serious problem and when you could manage it at home with simple remedies.
Is Zantac – Ranitidine and Cancer the Tip of the Iceberg?
For over 30 years, millions of people took ranitidine (Zantac) for heartburn. Is there a link between ranitidine and cancer? There's new data!
How Can You Take Control of Your Digestive Health?
Dr. Marvin Singh takes an integrative approach to digestive health and precision medicine. How can you assess your biomarkers at home?
Can You Use D-Limonene to Overcome Heartburn?
D-limonene derived from citrus peels may help ease the symptoms of acid reflux. Some people take it for gallstones, too.
How Does Baking Soda in Water Fight Swelling?
A dose of baking soda in water signals the spleen to produce anti-inflammatory immune cells. This may help reduce swelling.
What Are Downsides to New Secret Weapon for Heartburn?
We warn a reader to be wary of a secret weapon for heartburn. It turns out to be generic Nexium, and long-term use has potentially serious complications.
Could Famotidine Have a Surprising New Use?
A high-dose IV form of the heartburn medicine famotidine is being tested for a surprising new use. Scientists hope it will help against COVID-19.
Can You Relieve Heartburn With Vinegar?
Many people have found they can ease heartburn with vinegar. When will scientists study this remedy so we will know whether or how it works?
How a Little Girl Overcame Her Constipation
A mother describes how her young daughter overcame her constipation by following a diet full of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits.
Apple Cider Vinegar Is a Weird Remedy for Heartburn
Taking a spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar mixed in water is a popular remedy for heartburn. While not everyone finds it helpful, many people do.
Will Intermittent Fasting Give You Heartburn?
Some readers report that intermittent fasting reduces their symptoms of heartburn. For others, however, fasting triggers indigestion.
Show 1187: Are Supplements Really a Waste of Time?
Many people take supplements. A major review last summer concluded, though, that they are a waste of time for heart disease. Is that really true?
Could Soft Drinks Be Killing You?
A large European study found that people who usually had two soft drinks a day were more likely to die prematurely than those who had less than one a month.
Must You Take Acid Blockers For the Rest of Your Life?
Some people need acid-suppressing drugs forever. That would include those with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. But not everyone needs acid blockers for life.
Do PPI-Type Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Allergies?
A new study from Austria suggests that acid-suppressing drugs cause allergies such as hives. There are even elegant explanations why it could be true.
Thyroid Trouble Was Behind Stomach Problems
A reader describes how effective treatment for hypothyroidism reversed low stomach acid and overcame stomach problems and Barrett's esophagus.
Falling Asleep with Zolpidem | Waking up with Heartburn
Millions of people have insomnia. Many try falling asleep with zolpidem. But the drug can cause indigestion. Waking up with heartburn at night is not nice.
Does Your Microbiota Change When You Take Nexium?
What you eat and drink has an important impact on your microbiota. The medicines you take, including acid-suppressing drugs, can also affect these microbes.
More Bad News About PPIs and Kidney Damage
PPIs for acid reflux have been linked to infections, heart attacks, strokes, nutritional deficiencies and osteoporosis. What about PPIs and kidney damage?
What Is the Right Dose of Baking Soda?
Do you know the right dose of baking soda to calm your indigestion? Sodium-sensitive people need to be careful not to take too much.
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Lower Your Blood Pressure?
One reader reports that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar lowers occasional high blood pressure. Research in rats suggests vinegar inhibits ACE.
What Happened to Cod Liver Oil as a Home Remedy?
A reader who remembers home remedies of long ago wonders what happened to cod liver oil. Although doctors no longer prescribe it, people still take it.
Show 1144: New Ways to Heal Your Digestive Tract
We talk with two eminent experts about how to heal your digestive tract. Dr. Shaheen treats Barrett's esophagus. Dr. Bretthauer treats C diff.
Will You Get Osteoporosis If You Take Omeprazole?
People who take omeprazole or a similar PPI for acid reflux are susceptible to a range of side effects, including weakened bones.
Swapping Losartan for Valsartan Results in Stomachache
Substituting losartan for valsartan takes care of the valsartan shortage caused by the recall. It might result in unexpected side effects, however.
Is Liver Cancer a Risk of Acid-Suppressing Drugs?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Nexium and Prilosec can prevent heartburn and heal ulcers. But they do have some frightening side effects and might even promote liver cancer.
Yet Another PPI Complication | Acid-Suppressing Drugs and Liver Cancer?
Millions of people take powerful acid-suppressing drugs every day. They are thought to be so safe you can take them without medical supervision. A new PPI complication may have emerged.
Can You Use Almonds to Stop Heartburn?
Eating a few almonds after a meal, avoiding highly processed foods and taking DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) can help stop heartburn without drugs.
How to Avoid Trouble at the Pharmacy Checkout
Planning ahead and knowing what your insurance plan will cover can help you sidestep unpleasant surprises at the pharmacy checkout counter.
Skimping on Magnesium May Mean Trouble Sleeping
When a medication leads to low magnesium levels, you might have trouble sleeping. Restoring magnesium with supplements could help.
How To Choose Safe and Effective Over-The-Counter Medicines
Do you play doctor by medicating yourself or those you love with over-the-counter medicines? Do you understand the pros and cons of such drugs? Our faves and our fears on OTC meds!
Do Mothers with Heartburn Have Babies with Asthma?
Pregnant women who take PPIs or H-2 blockers to treat heartburn symptoms during pregnancy increase their risk of having babies with asthma.
Why Do Cough Lozenges Ease Indigestion?
Spicy cough lozenges with menthol, licorice, eucalyptus and hot pepper stimulate saliva production, which can wash stomach acid out of the esophagus.
Will Your Heartburn Drug Cause Depression?
It seems unlikely that a heartburn drug would cause depression, but a study finds that people taking PPIs are more likely to be depressed or anxious.
Will Enteric-Coated Peppermint Oil Help Your Digestion?
Enteric-coated peppermint oil will do nothing for heartburn, but it has been shown to ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
A Pharmacist Remembers a Link Between Omeprazole and Cancer:
A new study linking PPIs to stomach cancer made headlines. A pharmacist with a long memory found a 1994 warning about omeprazole and cancer in the PDR.
Do Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Cancer?
A new study suggests that long-term use of acid-suppressing drugs might pose a substantial risk for stomach cancer in patients treated for H. pylori.
PPI Side Effects Continue to Scare Us To Death
PPI side effects keep accumulating. The latest news relates to type 2 diabetes. Will the FDA pay attention to these serious complications?
What Do You Do When Your Specialists Disagree?
Have you ever been caught in the middle of an argument? It's an uncomfortable place to be. When specialists disagree, patients are left holding the bag.
Will Home Made Ginger Ale Ease Heartburn?
Mixing powdered ginger and baking soda in water results in a homemade ginger ale that can ease heartburn and indigestion.
Turmeric in Milk Prevents Stomach Upset
The traditional Indian remedy of drinking turmeric in milk can provide anti-inflammatory benefits with causing digestive distress.
How to Use Baking Soda to Ease Indigestion:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a simple and inexpensive remedy for heartburn. But what about the sodium content? Is so much sodium bad for your health?
PPIs and Death: Why Are These Acid-Suppressors still OTC?
Many people consider PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) strong antacids. They are far more powerful. Recent discoveries about serious side effects are worrisome.
What Are the Risks of Pepcid Complete?
Suppressing stomach acid can change the intestinal microbiome with potentially dangerous consequences. Do the risks of Pepcid Complete include C. diff?
Will a Gluten-Free Diet Help Your Heartburn Symptoms?
One reader found that avoiding dairy products as well as wheat, barley and rye controls heartburn symptoms better than drugs.
Will Aspirin Keep Barrett’s from Turning into Cancer?
Research suggests that aspirin blocks a key inflammatory pathway cells utilize when they are becoming cancerous and could prevent esophageal cancer.
Will Spicy Green Tea Stop Your Stomachache?
Spicy green tea with ginger and turmeric can help ease gastritis and acid reflux. Should you drink it while you are tapering off omeprazole?
Should You Worry About Kidney Damage with PPI Heartburn Drugs?
Millions of people take PPIs for heartburn. Kidney damage may be a complication of long-term use. But stopping PPIs is harder than you might think.
How to Help Your Heartburn with Persimmon Tea
Sipping persimmon tea with ginger and cinnamon can help control symptoms of heartburn and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Does Ranitidine Have the Same Risks as a PPI?
Ranitidine (Zantac) can help control heartburn. It has fewer serious side effects than the popular PPI medicines like omeprazole, but it can interfere with vitamins.
Do People on PPIs Have More Infectious Diarrhea?
A study in Scotland found that people who take PPIs for a long time are more likely to suffer from C diff or Campylobacter infections.
How to Overcome Heartburn with Probiotics
Taking a probiotic supplement regularly helped one couple overcome heartburn and Barrett's esophagus. Might it help your digestive problem?
Can You Treat Heartburn in Pregnancy without Harming Baby?
When pregnant women treat heartburn with popular acid-suppressing drugs, their babies have an increased risk of developing asthma.
Is It Safe to Drink Sparkling Water for Acid Reflux?
One reader found that sipping sparkling water throughout the day keeps acid reflux symptoms away.
Add Strokes to the Scary List of PPI Side Effects
The list of serious PPI side effects keeps expanding. Add strokes and heart attacks to several other complications like infections, fractures and dementia.
Will Heartburn Drugs Raise Risk for Dementia?
Every day millions of people swallow pills to suppress acid production in the stomach. Do powerful proton pump inhibitors pose a risk for dementia?
Did Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Ruin A Life?
When was the last time you were tested for low levels of vitamin B12? If you are a vegetarian or someone taking drugs for diabetes or heartburn be vigilant!
How to Prevent Heartburn with Green Tea
One reader discovered that a daily cup of green tea could prevent heartburn. Could it work to help you with GERD or acid reflux?
Can You Trust Your Multivitamin?
Can you trust the vitamins in pharmacies and health food stores? One analysis suggests that a third of the tested products did not live up to expectations.
How to Improve Digestive Health with a Poop Transplant
A poop transplant that alters the disturbed microbiota of a diseased digestive tract can provide surprising relief from diarrhea, pain and other symptoms.
Why Should You Order Your Own Blood Tests?
Many doctors think it is a good thing that patients can monitor blood pressure and blood glucose at home. Should you be able to order your own blood tests?
Can You Conquer Heartburn with Coconut Water?
Some readers report that a daily dose or two of coconut water can help keep heartburn under control without the long-term effects of PPIs.
How to Ease Heartburn without Harming Your Kidneys
Long-term use of a PPI such as omeprazole might be harming your kidneys; how can you ease heartburn symptoms more safely?
When Is It Best to Take Nexium?
To get the best absorption of prescription esomeprazole delayed release capsules, take Nexium at least one hour before any meal,
How to Combat Heartburn with Dandelion Root Tea
One reader reports that drinking dandelion root tea has made heartburn disappear. Will it work for you?
How Can You Get Off a PPI Without Withdrawal?
Many people who have taken an acid-suppressing drug for months or years could use advice on how to discontinue their PPI without withdrawal symptoms.
Why Are Americans Now Worried About New PPI Side Effects?
Millions loved acid suppressing drugs for decades. Reports of PPI side effects didn't daunt them. But a new German study about dementia has people worried.
Should Doctors Worry About Heartburn Drug Dangers?
When doctors prescribe lots of heartburn drugs like Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec they may find it hard to believe there could be risks from long term use.
Do Heartburn Drugs Disturb Bacterial Balance in the GI Tract?
Acid-suppressing drugs like esomeprazole can disrupt bacterial balance and change the ecology of the digestive tract.
Are Your Kidneys in Danger from Heartburn Drugs?
People often take heartburn drugs for granted. But research confirms that powerful acid-suppressing drugs have unexpected consequences that can be serious.
Apple at Bedtime Relieves Nighttime Heartburn
Taking a few bites of apple before bed may ward off nighttime heartburn without unpleasant side effects.
Heartburn Drugs Upset Bacterial Balance in the GI Tract
Popular heartburn drugs such as omeprazole change the balance of bacteria in the colon and make a person more vulnerable to a dangerous C diff infection.
PPI Use Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease
Long term use of certain heartburn medicines may increase the possibility of developing chronic kidney disease and its attendant complications.
Stopping PPIs Suddenly Triggers Heartburn That Makes Withdrawal Harder
When stopping PPIs suddenly, symptoms of heartburn may push a patient back to the drug. Tapering may be more comfortable and successful.
Does Ambien Cause Acid Reflux?
The sleeping pill zolpidem (Ambien) has been linked to symptoms of acid reflux, although the connection is sometimes hard to prove.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux
Taking apple cider vinegar for acid reflux may seem like an odd remedy, but it quelled heartburn symptoms and a troublesome cough.
Getting Off PPIs Can Be a Challenge
Rebound reflux makes getting off PPIs difficult, but there are ways to help ease the pain and get through the withdrawal period.
Chewing Gum Can Help Ease Acid Reflux
Chewing gum is a surprisingly effective way to ward off acid reflux and the heartburn that comes with it.
Can You Overdose on Ginger?
Ginger, in capsules or as tea, can help ease the discomfort of discontinuing certain acid-suppressing drugs.
Another Scary Side Effect Linked to Heartburn Drugs
Acid suppressing drugs used to treat heartburn double the risk of kidney damage among older people.
Sauerkraut Juice Subdues Stubborn Heartburn
Many natural remedies can help control heartburn symptoms.
Heartburn Drugs Don’t Protect Intestines from Pain Relievers
Heartburn drugs that are supposed to protect the digestive tract from irritation due to NSAIDs may actually make it worse.
Surprising Help for Holiday Heartburn
Relieve reflux symptoms with usual home remedies including peppermint lozenges or gum to stimulate saliva, mustard, apple cider vinegar and so much more.
Acid-Suppressing Medicine Can Deplete the Body of Needed Magnesium
Acid-suppressing drugs can control heartburn symptoms, but they can also reduce absorption of important nutrients including magnesium and vitamin B12.
Do Acid Suppressing Drugs Protect Against Cancer or Increase the Risk?
Acid suppressing drugs like proton pump inhibitors may not protect against esophageal cancer and might even increase the risk.
Persimmon Punch Helps Tame Terrible Reflux
Persimmon punch helps relieve symptoms brought on by acid reflux.
Vitamin D Pills Triggered Acid Reflux
Big weekly dose of vitamin D triggered acid reflux symptoms.
Zolpidem (Ambien) Side Effects & Heartburn
Zolpidem (Ambien) is a very popular sleeping pill but there is a side effect patients are rarely warned about: Heartburn or acid reflux. It can be BAD!
Does Coconut Water Ease Acid Reflux?
Coconut water produced amazing results against acid reflux.
Home Remedies for Holiday Hazards
The holidays seem like fun and games--time to hang out with family and friends. Beware the dangers. We offer home remedies to the rescue.
Home Remedies for Heartburn
Have you ever experienced heartburn after dietary indiscretion? Given the risks of PPI drugs, why not try home remedies for heartburn?
Persimmon Tea Eases Acid Reflux
Persimmon tea is an amazing remedy for acid reflux and can be helpful in weaning off acid-suppressing drugs.
Heartburn
You can manage occasional heartburn with home remedies or OTC medications. More frequent symptoms deserve medical attention.
Is Suppressing Stomach Acid Safe?
There is a reason why humans and other creatures have stomach acid. Trying to suppress this process may hold unforeseen dangers.
Sugarless Gum Eases Acid Reflux
Chewing gum stimulates saliva which can soothe symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn.
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