What is Aciphex?
Aciphex is a highly popular OTC medication
that is used to treat heartburn. The annual sales
of this drug had reached approximately $1.3
billion worldwide in 2006. You may still wonder
whether Aciphex treatment can bring solid relief
to heartburn sufferers. In this article, a former
heartburn sufferer who tried numerous medications
reveals the truth about why
Aciphex should/should not be taken for
heartburn.
About 20% of all adults in the US and
in the Western Europe suffer from persistent
heartburn. This term stands for the painful
burning sensation in the chest or throat that
usually occurs after having a meal. While
occasional heartburn happens even among healthy
individuals and causes minimal distress, chronic
heartburn (several times a week or more) may be a
symptom of gastro-esophageal reflux disease
(GERD), also known as acid reflux.
Gastro esophageal reflux disease occurs
when the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle
that separates the esophagus from the stomach)
becomes weak and does not close properly, allowing
gastric acids from the stomach to reflux into the
esophagus. When acid regurgitation occurs on a
regular basis, it can lead to esophagitis
(inflamed lining of the esophagus), troubled
swallowing, bleeding, narrowing of the esophagus
and even a precancerous condition known as
Barrett's esophagus.
Acid reflux is triggered by two
underlying conditions: a weakened lower esophageal
sphincter and extra acidity in the stomach.
Aciphex is aimed at calming acid reflux symptoms,
including heartburn, by tackling the extra acidity
factor.
Aciphex belongs to a group of acid
reflux medications called PPIs (Proton Pump
Inhibitors). These are highly potent drugs that
include Prilosec, Protonix and Prevacid. PPIs work
by blocking the secretion of stomach acid by
shutting down a system in the stomach known as the
proton pump (that is involved in acid
production).
Downsides of Treatment with
Aciphex
While the intake of Aciphex and other
PPIs can bring immediate relief from heartburn,
this treatment has three serious downsides. First,
suppressing the acid production is highly
undesirable since gastric acid is essential to
proper digestion and for fighting fungi and
parasites. Secondly, Aciphex is not aimed at
tackling the root causes of acid reflux disease.
Instead the drug is aimed at the physical
manifestation of this condition (i.e. heartburn).
Failing to address the underlying cause of the
condition will often lead to lifelong dependence
on the drug along with the aggravation of acid
reflux.
Finally, recent researches have
exposed that the use of PPI medications may result
in a lot of side effects. A Dutch research the
report of which was published in 2004 has found
that PPIs (including Aciphex) might increase the
chance of developing pneumonia. The reason was
that stomach acid not only contributes to the
digestion process but also destroys pathogens
coming from the mouth to the esophagus. Some of
those pathogens can move up the esophagus and then
down to the lungs, causing pneumonia.
A new study from Great Britain
showed that patients of over the age of 50 who had
taken PPI medication - including Aciphex,
Prevacid, Nexium , Protonix and Prilosec - for more
than a year, had a 44% higher chance of breaking a
hip as compared to other acid reflux patients. The
acid blocking mechanism was found to hinder the
absorption of calcium - a substance that helps
maintain bone mineral density and helps prevent
osteoporosis.
Did you know that your painful,
debilitating heartburn could be permanently
eliminated without the need of Aciphex and other OTCs
or prescription medication? Acid reflux is
best treated by holistic treatment. It takes into
account the entire body and not just the symptoms.
Small lifestyle changes along with dietary
modifications, stress relief measures, and weight
management will get rid of the root cause of the
acid reflux. Holistic treatment is also perfectly
safe as it does not cause any side-effects and
works in alignment with the natural functioning of
your body. By following
the holistic approach you can cure your GERD
safely, naturally and permanently prevent its
recurrence.
