Proton Pump Inhibitors (of which Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium are some of the most common) have long been used to help relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. In this blog post, we'll dive into some of the details regarding their safety.
1. Understanding Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Proton Pump Inhibitors, including familiar names like omeprazole, esomeprazole, and lansoprazole, are medications designed to reduce the production of stomach acid. They are commonly prescribed for conditions such as GERD, peptic ulcers, and gastritis.
2. The Safety side: When taken in the short-term, PPIs pose very little risk. However, nearly 30% of PPI users have been taking a PPI for greater than 3 years. Further compounding the problem is that 2/3 of PPI users are taking a greater than recommended dosage which makes the long-term ramifications that much more difficult to predict.
3. The Health risk: Research Findings: Recent studies showed that those individuals taking PPIs for a period of 5 years or more had a 33% increased risk of developing dementia. Furthermore, it was shown that PPIs resulted in a 20% increased risk of having a heart attack, resulting from increased plaques within the artery.
4. Other Concerns Associated with PPIs: a. Nutrient Deficiency: PPIs have been linked to reduced absorption of essential nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12. In order to absorb some nutrients, specific chemicals must be present in the stomach. If these chemicals are not, your body simply cannot absorb these nutrients. Prolonged deficiencies in these nutrients can have implications for bone health, energy levels, cardiovascular function, and neurological function. b. Increased Risk of Infections: Prolonged use of PPIs may also elevate the risk of certain infections, particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract, due to the reduction in stomach acid that normally acts as a defense mechanism against pathogens.
5. Considerations: Exploring Alternatives: Acid reflux is not inevitable, for most of us. What we eat, when we eat and how much we eat greatly influences whether or not we’ll develop acid reflex; Even our stress levels can influence it’s development.
6. Conclusion:
In the short-term, PPIs pose very little risk. It is the long-term usage which should be prompting us to find different avenues to reduce our acid reflux symptoms. There are those with certain diseases which will naturally produce greater amounts of stomach acid but these diseases are rare. For the majority of us, our diets are the greatest influencer in the development of acid reflux.
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