A team of researchers at Mayo Clinic recently uncovered an interesting physician bias regarding the diagnosis of the upper digestive conditions gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (also known as indigestion). The two conditions can overlap, but each condition has its own distinct symptoms.

The researchers uncovered a bias on the part of physicians who diagnosed the two conditions. Although the number of GERD diagnoses has increased in the last 20 years, the reported GERD symptoms have decreased. When symptoms of both conditions are present, the most common diagnosis is GERD. Further, when only symptoms of functional dyspepsia are present, diagnosis of GERD is still more likely.

I believe this is due to the influence of the pharmaceutical industry over doctors when it comes to treating upper GI conditions with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), among the most commonly prescribed drugs today. Proton pump inhibitors were first used to treat peptic ulcers until it was discovered that peptic ulcers are not the result of too much stomach acid, but instead the result of infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. Without a condition to treat, the focus of these drugs was turned to heartburn. Thus began widespread belief that heartburn was simply the result of too much stomach acid. To the rescue: Proton pump inhibitors and acid blockers.

As the Mayo Clinic study shows, functional dyspepsia is also now transitioning into a category in which proton pump inhibitors come to the rescue. But PPIs are not FDA approved to treat functional dyspepsia. Instead, doctors are seeing its symptoms—incomplete digestion, bloating, belching, excessive fullness, delayed stomach emptying—as those of GERD, a condition for which they have a well-known drug to treat it with.

The findings of this study are not surprising. The pharmaceutical companies have a lot of influence—on us (who hasn’t seen a pharmaceutical commercial or magazine ad lately), and on physicians (many of whose pockets are lined by these companies, in one way or another). Fortunately, when it comes to digestion, there are many dietary and lifestyle changes that can be made to improve the condition. If you are dealing with these conditions, or trying to avoid them, educate yourself!

It is true that functional dyspepsia can be difficult to treat. I have found that digestive enzymes are very helpful with easing the symptoms associated with this condition, which often result from poor diet, poor eating habits, and insufficient digestive enzyme production, all of which can be helped by digestive enzymes.

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Many people who have arthritis take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain. NSAIDs can wreak havoc on the stomach lining, however, so acid-suppressing drugs are often prescribed along with the NSAIDs to help protect the stomach (note the Band-Aid on top of Band-Aid method of medicine here).

The acid-suppressing drugs, or more specifically, proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), have been found to protect the stomach of people on long-term NSAIDs, yes. But from the results of a new study, it appears that the damage is only displaced further down the digestive tract—to the intestines. So instead of stomach ulcers, intestinal damage occurs, increasing the risk of developing intestinal ulcers, which can be more dangerous and difficult to treat.

The dangers of acid-suppressing medications are many. It’s a topic I’ve touched on before. I’ve even video-blogged about it. So many people are taking these medications long term when they aren’t designed for such use. If your doctor has given you acid-suppressing medications, be sure to inform yourself about the side effects of taking these drugs long term.

This week, if you know someone on acid suppressors for heartburn, open up the dialogue about how dietary and lifestyle factors may be at the root cause of upper digestive symptoms. If you pay attention to what you eat and how you eat, for example, you may be able to make changes that relieve your heartburn. If you know someone on these medications to protect against NSAID damage, they may want to think twice, based on this recent study.

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digestive tract, Heartburn, intestines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, pain, PPIs, proton pump inhibitors, Stomach, stomach lining, stomach ulcers

It is reported that the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which manufactures the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin (Lipitor), will attempt to gain FDA approval to sell the drug over the counter. The patent on Lipitor expires in November, which means that generic versions of the drug will drive the cost way down. Selling Lipitor over the counter would help make up for the lost profits for Pfizer. It’s not the first time Big Pharma has tried to gain this status for a statin drug—in 2008 an FDA advisory panel rejected applications from Merck for over-the-counter lovastatin, another statin drug. This application was rejected for a number of good reasons.

Drugs that have already taken the leap from prescription to over-the-counter status are those intended for temporary or intermittent treatment of symptomatic conditions like allergy, pain or gastric reflux (I won’t get into the inappropriate long-term use of over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors here—I’ve blogged on that before). Long-term treatment of asymptomatic conditions like high cholesterol requires physician monitoring of dosage, response and side effects. Liver damage and muscle pain are the most common side effects of statins. While muscle pain is obvious, liver damage can occur with no side effects, highlighting the importance of physician monitoring while on these medications.

Further, there is valid concern that consumers will not be able to appropriately select statin drugs and use them correctly. Consumers with little risk for a cardiovascular event may take over-the-counter statins with false hopes that the drug is benefitting them. Proper dosage is another factor—consumers needing a higher dose may mistakenly take a low dose, while those needing a low dose may overmedicate themselves.

For all these reasons, the FDA rejected the previous attempt at approval of over-the-counter statins. Let’s hope the FDA will take the same position with Pfizer’s attempts to gain over-the-counter status this time around. Statin drugs are already over-prescribed.

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It’s a subject you’ve heard me talk about before, but considering new research it’s definitely worth repeating. A recent CBS news segment revealed that not one but five new studies showed that using acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be potentially dangerous to your health, and that “more than half of prescriptions for these drugs are unnecessary”. Folks, this is an eye-opener if there ever was one!

Every year more than 100 million Americans are prescribed PPIs to help relieve symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, but what many people don’t know is that these drugs often come with some pretty serious side effects—including a nearly 75 percent greater risk of developing a severe intestinal infection known as C. diff, according to new evidence. Essentially, taking PPIs upsets the healthy bacterial balance in your intestines (which is where the majority of your natural immune defenses can be found), leaving your body vulnerable to illness and infection.

Widespread PPI use has also been linked to higher rates of pneumonia, as well as esophageal candidiasis (yeast overgrowth), inflammation of the stomach lining, increased permeability of upper GI tract lining, and even osteoporosis-related bone fractures due to the fact that PPIs block calcium absorption in the body. Because long-term PPI use also leads to hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid secretion), bacterial overgrowth and acetaldehyde production, PPI users have an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. 

The good news? There are simple things we can do every day to help prevent heartburn and acid reflux without relying on harmful drugs. Diet changes like limiting our intake of caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods can make a big difference, along with maintaining a healthy body weight, getting plenty of exercise and quitting smoking—all pretty good advice if you ask me! Natural supplements made with ingredients such as ellagic acid (from raspberries and pomegranates) can also provide soothing relief for occasional heartburn, and digestive enzymes with added HCl can help ensure complete digestion and reduce the chances of heartburn and acid reflux happening in the first place.

The bottom line is this: why take a potentially dangerous drug when smarter, safer alternatives exist? My hope is that the more people learn about PPIs and their side effects—including why they may not even need them in the first place—the more people will take steps to improve their digestive health naturally.

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It seems like every other person I meet is taking medication for acid reflux. Well, it just makes my blood boil. All most docs do is write a prescription without really getting to the underlying cause. The poor patient is stuck in this vicious cycle of always needing the meds. It’s a very common problem with people who have been on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for a long time.

PPIs are only supposed to be used for 8-12 weeks depending on the type you are on, and they are not meant for long-term use. What happens when you are on these meds is that your stomach stops producing hydrochloric acid. So when you suddenly stop taking the meds, your body goes into what is called a “rebound” reaction. This means your body realizes it can now make the hydrochloric acid (which by the way you need for healthy digestion!), and now it overproduces it. Ironically, most people who are prescribed PPIs in the first place actually have too little stomach acid, not too much! Hence, the vicious cycle.

To break the cycle you need to wean yourself off these types of meds while at the same time taking hydrochloric acid supplements with your meals. Trust me, it’s well worth it. You’ll be in control of your body, and no more co-pays!

To learn more, listen to the informative and eye-opening archived internet radio show Brenda’s Poop Scoop that aired Wednesday February 1oth, Acid Reflux: What Your Doctor May Not Be Telling You.

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acid reflux, Antacid, digestive system, Gastric acid, Gastroenterology, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hydrochloric acid, proton pump inhibitors, Reflux

Summary:
In this video blog I discuss the use of proton pump inhibitors. A recent study has found why people stay on these drugs for long term use instead of the 6-8 week suggested use. They call it “acid rebound phenomenon”? What is acid rebound phenomenon? What does it to your body? What can you do naturally to help with heartburn? Turn in and find out the answer to these questions and more…

Full Script:
For some time now I have been speaking up about the continued use of the medications prescribed for acid reflux. These medications, called proton pump inhibitors are one of the most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals on the market. I have many times said that the problem with these meds is that people stay on them long term when if fact they are only meant for a period of six to eight weeks.

Recently results of a study may have revealed the reason why people remain on these drugs long term, something I had suspected for some time now. It seems that these proton pump inhibitors cause what is called an acid rebound phenomenon in the two to three weeks after discontinuing. What this means is when people try to get off the medications they get an increase in gastric acid secretion well above normal which leads to symptoms such as heartburn, acid regurgitation and dyspepsia. This increase in symptoms then results in a resumption of therapy with the medication.

In other words, these meds cause a vicious cycle of acid secretion and heartburn symptoms. This occurred not only in those having symptoms to begin with, but those participants of the study that had no prior history of upper gastric disorders. Interestingly most people who are put on these medications do not need their acid levels turned off, but instead need a good digestive enzyme supplement containing hydrochloric acid ( HCI ). It is much more common to have a low stomach acid level, which mirrors the symptoms of too much acid, such as heartburn and reflux.

If only the Heidelberg Acid test was more readily available around the country, one could truly know if they are producing too much acid in the stomach or in fact have too little. This test involves swallowing a capsule that relays information back to a computer on the amount of acidity within the stomach. Until the time this test is available in your area, try taking a digestive enzyme with HCI (hydrochloric acid) like the Renew Life’s Heartburn Prevention formula. You might be able to avoid the vicious cycle of masking acid reflux symptoms with medication only to experience worse symptoms after discontinuing them.

Thanks again for watching, check back for more of my video blogs

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acid rebound phenomenon, acid reflux, Brenda Watson, gastric disorders, Heartburn, heartburn prevention, Heidelberg acid test, low stomach acid levels, proton pump inhibitors