Can Aciphex bring any true relief to victims of heartburn? In the following article, a former heartburn patient tells the tragic truth about Aciphex, after having compared with many alternative solutions. As an Over The Counter medicament against heartburn, Aciphex is known by millions. Sales per annum of this drug topped $1.3 billion (figures from 2006).
About 1 in 5 of all adults in America and Western Europe are afflicted by recurring heartburn. The name comes from the sensation of burning and pain in the throat of the chest, especially after eating a meal. Even if healthy individuals can experience occasional heartburn as well, recurrent heartburn (every two or three days) may be a sign of acid reflux, or to give it its full name, GERD - gastro esophageal reflux disease.
Acid reflux causing the pain of heartburn occurs because of weakness of a stomach sphincter. It can lead to inflammation of the esophageal lining (esophagitis) and difficulties in swallowing, internal hemorrhages, esophageal constriction and Barrett’s esophagus, often a precursor to cancer. GERD is brought on by a muscle between the esophagus and the stomach not working correctly. This muscle is the lower esophageal sphincter and should normally block off the esophagus from the stomach to stop acid and juices backing up into the esophagus.
Aciphex tries to target the acidity as a solution to reduce acid reflux symptoms including heartburn. This is just one of two factors provoking acid reflux. Besides excessive stomach acidity, the other one is weakness of the esophageal sphincter.
Aciphex is part of the group of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) which aim to treat acid reflux symptoms. This group also contains Prevacid, Protonix and Prilosec as PPIs that function by blocking the production of acid in the stomach by disabling the proton pump, which is the stomach’s way of making acid.
Nonetheless, the real reason for acid reflux lies elsewhere. Aciphex is only concentrating on the feeling of heartburn. When the real reason is neglected, it will continue to produce the symptom and this may even result in drug dependency and even bigger problems of acid reflux. Even if it may be true that almost instant relief is brought by Aciphex and other PPIs, downsides are also part of the equation? In particular, because gastric acid aids digestion and kills certain invasive bacteria and viruses, deliberately stifling its production may be unwise.
A surprising conclusion was derived from the role of gastric acid which normally extends to disabling pathogens that enter the mouth, the esophagus and then the stomach. Without stomach acid, these microbes can then make their way back up the esophagus and contaminate the lungs to cause pneumonia. Not only this but other side effects almost as undesirable also come about. This information comes from medical research carried out in 2004 in Holland.
One of the other side effects noted from the artificial prevention of stomach acid was the simultaneous prevention of the body to correctly absorb calcium. Incorrect calcium balance in the body can lead to osteoporosis because of incorrect mineral bone density. UK research showed a 44% greater chance of breaking a hip, for sufferers over the age of 50 who had been using PPIs for over a year, compared to acid reflux sufferers not using PPIs. The types of PPIs referred to included Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex, Protonix and Prevacid.
The comprehensive holistic approach will resolve your GERD effectively and safely and permanently prevent it from happening again. Did you already hear the news? Heartburn and its painful effects can now be prevented forever without having to use Aciphex or any similar medication.
