Heartburn is a Common Ailment: 1000s of Lawsuits Filed — Natural Remedies Available
Don’t Let Yourself Become a Statistic
Written by Brandi McMurry
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
Heartburn is a common ailment affecting more than 15 million Americans every day.
Your food is transferred from your mouth to your esophagus before it reaches your stomach. The bottom of the esophagus is called the esophagus sphincter. It is responsible for closing the digestive tract so stomach acid cannot reach the sensitive tissue in your esophagus. When you experience acid reflux, the sphincter has not been closed completely, allowing some stomach acid to work its way up the digestive tract, causing reflux.
It is important to realize that heartburn is a symptom, not a condition. In order to rid the heartburn, it is crucial to identify the root cause for long term results. Heartburn can be caused by aspirin, pregnancy, acid reflux, or GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease). The reflux can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation, an acidic taste at the back of your throat, and some people may experience difficulty swallowing.
Examples of foods and lifestyle choices that can trigger acid reflux include:
Tomatoes and tomato-based products, citrus, onions, mint, coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol
Stress, sedintary lifestyle, being overweight, tight clothing, smoking
Treating Acid Reflux
From the U.S. Natural Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most widely prescribed class of medications in the United States, and they account for (more than) $10 billion in annual health care costs.”
Photo by Kendal on Unsplash
PPIs limit the production of stomach acid and treat heartburn very well. It is also very convenient to take a pill 30 minutes before a meal in place of lifestyle changes.
In my professional opinion as a colon hydrotherapist, I urge you to try to find alternative solutions first. There are many harmful side effects to these medications.
PPIs are addictive, and your body will become dependent on the medication.
A study conducted in New Zealand, published in June 2019, explains that Rebound acid hypersecretion “RAHS is the recurrence of symptoms due to an increase in gastric acid secretion above pre-treatment levels after stopping PPI therapy. Symptoms of RAHS may include heartburn, regurgitation or dyspepsia.”
The study states that PPIs cause an overgrowth of histamine cells in your stomach, which produces more stomach acid. So the very symptom that the medication treats, it will also cause. Thus the vicious cycle continues, making it very difficult to discontinue the medication. The study recommends a step-down approach to wean yourself off of the drug. There is a lot of concern regarding the overuse of PPIs, and their addictive nature.
Other side effects of PPIs include weak bones and fractures, vitamin deficiencies, interstitial nephritis (kidney infections), pneumonia, and diarrhea. The medication greatly disrupts the micro gut biome and intestinal flora. Trillions of gut bacteria with 1000 species are disrupted when ingesting this medication. Your gut is responsible for 70 percent of your immune system. The diversity within your microbiome decreases with the medication, in turn weakening your immune system.
PPIs are available through prescriptions and over the counter. Anyone who has heartburn can purchase Prilosec to treat their unwanted symptoms. I urge you to first try some natural remedies.
Lawsuit Against PPIs
Over 15,000 lawsuits have been filed against Proton Pump Inhibitor medication companies, including prescription manufacturers AstraZeneca, Takeda, and Pfizer. Over-the-counter manufacturers including Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, and more also have lawsuits pending. The claim states the companies fail to warn consumers of the serious dangers and risks caused by the medications, specifically related to kidney diseases and complications.
The lawsuits allege the companies have known of the dangerous side effects from the drugs for at least ten years, before warning the public.
“When first approved, PPI users were warned of side effects like nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, and dizziness but since their introduction, thousands of patients have experienced severe side effects and complications due to these medications. Many of these PPI users and family members have filed lawsuits against AstraZeneca or Takeda for injuries caused by their medications, Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid. More than 4,200 of these lawsuits are pending in federal court and more may exist in state and local courts.” According to drugwatch.com.
It has been implied that pharmaceutical greed is a significant factor in the PPI industry earning 14 billion dollars yearly. Doctors overprescribe the medications and are able to keep patients on the drugs long term, promoting sales in the place of health for many suffering patients.
Natural Treatments for Acid Reflux
Chronic heartburn is real, there is no denying it! Here are some tips to help you avoid heartburn.
Eat meals three to four hours before going to bed, and never sleep with a full stomach. Eat intuitively. Slow down during meals to avoid overeating. Pay attention to what you ate before your heartburn started. Limit or eliminate those foods from your diet that cause discomfort. Maintain a healthy weight, planning your exercise two hours after a meal so you are not digesting while working out. Meditate to help relieve stress. Quit smoking, and decrease your caffeine intake. If your acid reflux is worse when you lie down, try elevating your neck to help align your esophagus with your stomach, and sleep on your left side for easier digestion.
Heartburn is very very common. I recommend drinking chamomile tea, ginger tea or ginger root, and licorice to help with symptoms. Probiotics are also worth considering. Celery seed supplements, as well as lavender and ginger essential oils, may help. Always check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
You don’t have to skip out on your favorite meals and indulgences for minor indigestion. But it is important to consider lifestyle changes before your acid reflux becomes a chronic condition.
Preventative care is self-care. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Sources:
www.drugwatch.com
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-you-should-know-about-ppis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aPjOFWn9c&ab_channel=MayoClinic
