Antacids are a group of
prescription medications that is used to relieve
heartburn symptoms. Antacids have
been around for a long time and are perhaps the
largest-selling drugs and most of us have used
them at one time or another. Their use is so
common place for acid reflux that there is a
tendency to think of them as harmless. They work
by neutralizing the stomach acids and their effect
lasts for a couple of hours. An antacid combined
with a foaming agent is believed to form a foam
barrier on top of the stomach that prevents acid
reflux from occurring.
The
most popular ingredients of some antacids are
calcium carbonate (Rolaids, Tums), aluminum
hydroxide (Maalox, Mylanta), magnesium hydroxide
(Philips Milk of Magnesia), and magnesium oxide,
sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer); bismuth salts
(Pepto-Bismol).
Antacids
differ in how quickly they work and how long they
provide relief. Those with magnesium hydroxide and
sodium bicarbonate dissolve rapidly and bring
about relief faster. Those with calcium carbonate
or aluminum dissolve slowly and provide relief
only after about 30 minutes. An antacid taken
after a meal provides longer-lasting relief than
one taken on an empty
stomach.
Antacids
are contraindicated in kidney and liver diseases,
pregnant and nursing
mothers.
Although
antacids are widely used, they are real
medications with real consequences. All said and
done, they just mask the symptoms of acid reflux
and do nothing to fix the underlying problem. In fact,
they make the problem worse in the long run.
Additionally, they contain calcium, magnesium, or
aluminum which in large doses can cause serious
side effects. Constipation, diarrhea, altered
calcium metabolism, a build up of magnesium and
aluminum in the body, nausea, headaches, and
dizziness at first when the body is adjusting to
the medication are some common side effects. Also,
there may be unusual bleeding or bruising,
pounding chest pains, rash, difficulty sleeping,
mental changes, or extreme weakness while taking
antacids.
Another side effect of antacid
overuse is the milk-alkali syndrome where excess
calcium accumulates in the blood and can lead to
kidney failure. This is caused by drinking lots of
milk while taking antacids over a long period of
time or even consuming large amounts of antacids
by themselves. When the level of acid in the
stomach is reduced, food may not be digested
properly, causing more digestive problems or
nutrients from the food not being absorbed by the
body. The acid in the stomach also kill off
pathogens that we ingest everyday. Low levels of
stomach acid can lead to increased
infections.
In
summary, popping antacids is only a quick-fix
solution and a potentially hazardous one. The aim
of curing a disease to eradicate its cause which
is what holistic therapy aspires to do. Causative
factors of acid reflux range from physiological,
physical, to emotional. To bring about a balance
in these factors will result in elimination of the
disease. This would involve dietary modifications,
lifestyle changes, exercise, weight management,
stress relief and other modalities. Thus the whole
body is involved and healed in the process.
