The most popular ingredients of some
antacids are calcium carbonate (Rolaids, Tums),
aluminium 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 aluminium dissolve
slowly and provide relief only after about 30
minutes. An antacid taken after a meal provides a
longer-lasting relief than one taken on an empty
stomach.
Antacids are contraindicated in kidney
and liver diseases, pregnant women and nursing
mothers.
Although antacids are widely used, they
are medications with several negative
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. They
contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminium which in
large doses can cause serious side-effects.
Constipation, diarrhoea, altered calcium
metabolism, a build up of magnesium and aluminium
in the body, nausea, headaches, and dizziness in
the initial stages 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 in
sleeping, mental changes, or extreme weakness on
taking antacids.
Another side-effect of
antacid overuse is the milk-alkali syndrome where
excess calcium accumulates in the blood and which
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
due to nutrients from the food not being absorbed
by the body. The acid in the stomach also kills
off pathogens that we ingest everyday. Low levels
of stomach acid can lead to increased
infections.
Excessive intake of
sodium in the form of sodium carbonate in antacids
may cause arterial hypertension, heart failure and
many renal diseases. Calcium salts may also cause
constipation. Osteoporosis (or calcification of
bones causing brittleness) is another consequence
of calcium intake in the form of antacids. Regular
high doses of carbonates can also cause kidney
stones.
To summarize, popping antacids for
acid reflux is only a quick-fix solution
and a potentially hazardous one. The aim of curing
a disease is to eradicate its cause which is what
holistic therapy aspires to do. Causative factors
of acid reflux range from physiological, physical,
to emotional. Bringing 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.
Holistic treatment is perfectly natural and works
to restore the healthy body-balance in general,
while curing the disease at its root, without
causing any side-effects whatsoever.
