Acid reflux is more than just uncomfortable; it’s a very dangerous disease that can lead to many other conditions that are even more serious. If you suffer from chronic heartburn and the many other symptoms of this disease and have been prescribed acid reflux medication by your doctor, then of course you should continue this course of treatment until you speak with him or her again. However, far too many people ignore the root causes of acid reflux and continue to eat what they want, when they want, and how much they want, and then rely on their acid reflux medication to alleviate their symptoms, without much thought as to the damage they’re doing to their esophagus. Their acid reflux medication then becomes a crutch they can use as an excuse to continue with their poor diet and other choices.
There are two particular dangers to this course of thinking. Number one, there are some serious side effects and concerns with long-term use of acid reflux medication, and this includes both those prescribed by your doctor and those offered at the local pharmacy over-the-counter. Most of these medications are made with a combination of sodium, carbonate, magnesium, and calcium, and a large amount of these unnatural substances in your body for a long time can have serious side effects. Most of these substances can lead to renal (kidney) failure and disease. They can also contribute to kidney stones and a buildup of carbon dioxide gas in the system, which can lead to stomach distension and irritation. Some of these acid reflux medications also cause chronic diarrhea, which is not just uncomfortable and unpleasant but which also leads to dehydration. A large amount of sodium, a common ingredient in acid reflux medication, can lead to cardiovascular problems, hypertension, and even heart failure. So obviously taking these medications is not completely safe and without further concerns.
The other danger in this course of thinking is that when you experience the symptoms of acid reflux, you are already doing damage to your esophagus. Most people who use acid reflux medications without changing their diet and eating patterns wait until they feel the pain and burning of a flare-up before they take anything for it. That pain means that your esophagus has already been exposed to dangerous stomach acids, so while your acid reflux medication may stop it from getting worse, there has already been a lot of damage done internally.
For some, acid reflux is just so far gone in their case that they have no choice but to rely on medications. However, most can prevent and treat their acid reflux by changing their diet and by eating more modest portions with every meal. This keeps the stomach from producing too much acid and from overloading it and making it so full that the acid has nowhere to go but back up the esophagus. While you may not be able to forego taking acid reflux medication completely, you can certainly cut down on your need for it.
