Resolving healthcare, fitness and well-being issues
Remedies for treating the symptoms of heartburn
Antacids are medications you can buy over the counter at any chemist without the need for a doctor’s prescription and are used to treat the symptoms of heartburn. They are usually available in tablet or liquid form.
What is heartburn?
Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Heartburn is caused when stomach acid passes out of the stomach and up into the oesophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).
The acid can irritate the surface of the oesophagus, leading to the burning sensation associated with heartburn. Health professionals prefer to use the term gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD, to describe this condition because it’s a more accurate term than heartburn. See the Useful links section for more information about GORD.
How do antacids work?
Antacids can work in two ways:
- they can coat the surface of the oesophagus to protect it from stomach acids, or
- they can produce a gel in your stomach, which helps prevent acid leaking up into your oesophagus.
Are antacids effective?
There is evidence that antacids are effective in providing short-term relief for the symptoms of GORD. However, long-term use is not recommended because there are more effective prescription medications for the treatment of recurring GORD, such as proton-pump inhibitors.
Lifestyle changes, particularly changes in diet, can reduce the symptoms of GORD. Your doctor will be able to provide more advice about diet.
You should see your doctor if the symptoms of GORD persist for more than a week, or they quickly return once the effects of the antacids wear off.
Who should not take antacids?
The long-term use of antacids in young children is not recommended. This is because they can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which is required for the development of healthy bones.
There have been a number of cases where children have developed rickets (a developmental disorder) due to taking high-dose antacids over the course of five to six weeks.
Antacids are generally considered to be safe to take during pregnancy, but they can interfere with the absorption of iron. Therefore, if you need to take iron supplements during pregnancy, take them at least two hours before, or after, taking antacids.
Similarly, antacids may interfere with your body’s ability to absorb other types of medication, particularly if you take them at the same time. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you about the best way to take both types of medication.
Some antacids contain high levels of magnesium and aluminium, which may be harmful for people who have a history of kidney disease. Also, some antacids contain high levels of salt, which may be harmful for those with high blood pressure (hypertension).
Ask your pharmacist or your doctor for advice about which antacids are suitable for you if you have high blood pressure or a history of kidney disease.
Side effects
A study that looked at how antacids affect people found that 12% of those who took antacids experienced side effects. The side effects included:
- diarrhoea,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- blood in the stools,
- flatulence (wind), and
- constipation.
However, any side effects that you experience should pass once you stop taking antacids.
| Print article | This entry was posted by John Newman on March 5, 2010 at 09:30, and is filed under Digestive Disorders. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
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