Before you pop that pill to quell stomach acid you might want to know a bit more about the drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI). PPI drugs are widely used to treat acid-related conditions like gastroesophageal reflex disorder (GERD) and ulcers.
According to new research in the medical journal Gut, scientists found that proton pump inhibitors have been linked to a significantly increased risk of stomach cancer. Researchers found that among those using proton pump inhibitors for long periods, they experienced a 240 percent increased risk of stomach cancer. In previous studies, researchers believed that H. pylori infections caused the increase in stomach cancer incidence but this new study addressed the infections and found that the risk of stomach cancer still increased with PPI use, thereby ruling out the infection as the cause of the problem. Those who used the drugs daily had a 455 percent higher risk than those who used them weekly.
Proton pump inhibitors have been linked with many other health concerns. For many years the drugs were known to increase the risk of other serious infections in the gut, including C. difficile (Clostridium difficile) infections. The drugs also deplete vitamin B12, an essential nutrient necessary for energy in the body. PPIs have also been linked to osteoporosis-related fractures. Long term use has been linked to magnesium depletion and an increase risk of heart attacks.
Other research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the commonly-used medications can cause or increase the risk of dementia. In that study, the health of 73,679 people aged 75 or older was followed and evaluated. None of the study participants experienced dementia at the outset of the study but those taking PPI drugs increased their risk of dementia by 52 percent. That’s another potentially high price to pay for the drug treatment of heartburn, indigestion, ulcers, stomach acid and GERD. Researchers found that the connection was so strong that they concluded that avoidance of these drugs may actually prevent the development of the disease.
There are many different brand names for proton pump inhibitor drugs, including: Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Dexilent, Protonix, Vimovo and Zegerid. They are often used in combination with antibiotics to treat H. pylori-related infections which include ulcers.
There are many other potential side-effects of proton pump inhibitors, including: confusion, coughing, cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, gas, headaches, kidney problems, muscle cramps, nausea and tremors. Ironically, cramping, diarrhea, gas and nausea are among the symptoms for some of the conditions the drugs are prescribed to treat, which makes me question their use at all. What’s the point of taking drugs that can cause the symptoms you’re trying to alleviate? And, substantially increase your risk of stomach cancer and dementia in the first place. Of course, if you’re taking these drugs you’ll need to work with your physician to explore other options before discontinuing them under your doctor’s guidance.
Some people find ulcer relief from taking 2 drops each of frankincense and peppermint essential oils, twice daily in a glass of water. Of course, be sure to choose only products that have been FDA-approved for internal use. The herb aloe vera as well as marshmallow (the herb, not the candy) are traditionally used to treat ulcers.
People often find improvements from GERD by using a couple drops of a blend of essential oils made from ginger, peppermint, caraway and fennel prior to or during meals. Mix equal parts of the FDA-approved essential oils suitable for internal use in a clean bottle. Use a couple of drops in a 2 ounce glass of water to help with digestion. Reduce the complexity of meals by eating fruit on an empty stomach and eating protein-rich foods with vegetables or eating carbohydrate-rich foods with vegetables, but not concentrated animal proteins and carbohydrates. While this practice known as food combining has not been studied, many people who have tried it swear by its effectiveness. Do not lay down or bend over after meals. Instead, go for a walk to improve the movement of food through the digestive tract.
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