Acid reflux happens when your muscle between the oesophagus and the stomach becomes weak or relaxes at the incorect time. The outcome is that your stomach contents, including the acid, goes up into the oesophagus. Because your oesophagus does not have the protective coating that your stomach has, the acid will literally burns your oesophagus.
You have watched the commercials: Acid reflux is a terrible disease that will cause damage to your oesophagus and may lead to cancer. Are these claims realistic, or just exaggerated to market over the counter medications? The truth is that doctors do not even agree on the treatments, causes, and long-term risks related to heartburn, so you could believe what you would about the ads.
What really helps?
What should you do to rebalance the acid in your stomach? Several non-prescription drugs might be effective for mild to moderate acid reflux, such as antacids, which counterbalance stomach acids. These include well known over-the-counter medications such as Rolaids and Tums. Your other option is H2 receptor antagonists, which cut down the production of stomach acids. These include Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Axid AR, and Zantac 75. Pepcid complete is the only of these that blends an antacid with an H2 receptor antagonist. Which is the best solution? One study found that Pepcid complete does better than either an antacid alone or an H2 receptor antagonist alone.
Prescription drugs prescribed to handle acid reflux are called proton-pump inhibitors. These include Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex, Nexium, and Protonix. While these are equally effective, one study did find that Nexium might heal esophageal sores faster.
Homeopathic Remedies
Combined with homeopathic remedies, heartburn might be treated effectively with less reliance on over the counter or prescribed medications. Together, these solutions might give the answers where just one solution fails to deliver on the promise.
Natural options that might help reduce GERD include deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which might bring fast relief and help heal damaged lining. Aloe Vera juice will also act fast to bring relief. For those with chronic problems, Gamma-oryzanol ,rice bran oil, might be useful, as could choline, pantothenic acid, and thiamin. These natural solutions will provide more effective short-term relief as well as give long-term dietary benefits.
Why Use a Homeopathic Remedy?
The benefits of natural solutions is that they are often cheaper and reduce the chances of becoming reliant on a particular solution. Natural solutions include treating the cause as do the effect, and experimenting with diet and alternative treatments might help lessen the cause of the problem. Additionally, all of the homeopathic remedies mentioned above could be used along with over the counter or prescription medications.
Will Acid Reflux Cause Cancer?
Acid reflux and cancer studies vary. One study indicated that chronic acid reflux increased the chances of oesophageal cancer by as much as seven times. Another study showed that the risk of cancer is not nearly as much as was once thought. Chronic acid reflux could lead to Barrett's oesophagus, or BE, which has been thought to cause an increase in cancer. A study done by a group of medical doctors discovered that the risk of cancer from BE is not as much as previously thought, stating that BE will not cause cancer for most individuals.
Chronic GERD is difficult to live with, and experimenting with both traditional medications and natural remedies might be your best solution. As research continues on the causes and effects of GERD, additional options are likely to come up.
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