Originally published January 3 2005
Gastric-acid reflux drugs increase risk of pneumonia
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
No surprise here: by reducing stomach acid, these antacid drugs create an environment that supports the growth of infectious agents. When they find their way into the lungs, pneumonia may result. It's one more reason to stop using prescription drugs to treat symptoms and, instead, start addressing the core health needs of patients.
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Researchers from the University of Radboud, Netherlands, have found that gastric-acid suppressive drugs raise the risk of developing pneumonia.
- In a study of 364,000 patients, the researchers concluded that gastric acid suppressive drugs raise pneumonia risk by 27%.
- About 5% of people experience heartburn in any given year.
- These people are often prescribed gastric-acid suppressive drugs.
- Gastric-acid suppressive drugs are commonly prescribed for gastroesohageal reflux disease (GERD).
- GERD means a backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus.
- Most of us experience gastroesophageal reflux at some time or other.
- Symptoms include heartburn, an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone, usually after a meal.
- This reflux can become frequent or severe enough to cause more significant problems - a disease.
- GERD is a clinical condition that occurs when reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus is severe enough to impact the patient's life and/or damage the esophagus.
- Gastric-acid suppressive drugs are often prescribed for severe indigestion.
- Researchers believe that stomach acids kill off the bacteria that lead to pneumonia.
- As gastric-acid suppressive drugs reduce the amount of acid, they believe this allows the bacteria to spread.
- The researchers said patients on gastric-acid suppressive drugs should not give them up without checking with their doctors first.
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