Prescription Heartburn

Is It Dangerous?

In the ever-growing list of medications used to treat heartburn, there is a drug called Nexium. So is Nexium dangerous? In this article, we will show the common uses of Nexium, what it can do for you, the risks involved and, ultimately, effective alternatives. Esomeprazole is the generic name for Nexium. It can only be obtained with a prescription and is usually used to treat serious acid reflux disorders. However, we will talk about it later. Nexium reduces acid formation in our stomach and is therefore a proton pump inhibitor.

Some minor side effects that occur while taking Nexium are: headache, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, abdominal pain, constipation or dry mouth. If you notice any of these signs, contact your doctor. The more serious side effects that can occur include severe stomach pain, vomiting, persistent nausea, dark urine, and a vitamin B-12 deficiency that can cause them - even many problems.

Nexium can only be obtained with a prescription and is very often prescribed for acid reflux disease caused by poor nutrition. However, we will come back to this later. Nexium generally blocks stomach acid production. As I said, only the symptoms are treated, not the cause of the problem. Since Nexium is not an acid reflux remedy, it should be taken regularly if symptoms occur. Therefore, you may need to take it for the rest of your life.

The Dangers of Excessive Heartburn - Does Nexium Really Help Against Acid Reflux?

If you thought the chest and throat burn was just a case of heartburn - think again.

Far too many people consider heartburn to be one of the rare ailments that would go away without medication. Heartburn, which is unknown to most, can lead to more serious medical problems if taken lightly.

According to medical experts, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that occurs when a person's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is not closed properly. LES is actually a ring of muscles that connects the esophagus and stomach. It works like a valve and it is believed that food gets into the stomach while limiting the amount of gastric acid that gets into the esophagus.

When reflux acids push up the esophageal tube, the linings in the tube slowly deteriorate and become thinner. Of course, repeated cases of heartburn cause a number of uncomfortable sensations such as belching food from the stomach, nausea, suffocation and throat tightness. In some cases, GERD causes bleeding, ulcers, and scar tissue along the sensitive esophageal mucosa.

In rare cases, some people with GERD develop a disease known as Barrett's esophagus, or worse, cancer of the esophagus.

To effectively treat GERD, doctors generally advise patients on an adequate diet that contains many alkaline foods such as bananas and carrots. Nutritional management includes limiting the intake of caffeinated drinks and other acidic drinks and foods. Changing your lifestyle can also mean quitting smoking and exercising regularly. Drinking eight or more glasses of water daily is also a must, as the liquid effectively dilutes excess acids from the body. The right amount of water hydrates the body and at the same time balances your body's pH.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe certain medications that effectively prevent excessive acid production in your stomach. One such drug is Nexium for GERD, which belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. This type of medication works to limit or reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Nexium for GERD is also effective in healing gastric acid damage to the esophagus. Although this drug is not intended for people who want immediate relief from heartburn, it is prescribed by doctors for patients with more serious illnesses. This medication, also called esomeprazole, is available on the market. However, you should always consult a doctor before taking this medication.

If you want an honest opinion, Nexium and other acid reflux medications can be taken, but only in emergencies and should never be used as a maintenance medication. The reason for this is that it is just an association approach that temporarily hides the root cause of the problem. You may not know it, but in most cases, drugs like this have actually made GERD worse and caused other complications.