Heartburn and Antacids

I have not researched this topic because I very seldom get heartburn. I'm mentioning it because I see all these ads on TV for antacids and ask myself "Who buys this stuff? and Why?" Obviously lots of folks, as the manufacturers can afford to pay for TV ads. I may be wrong, but I think taking antacids is a vicious cycle. You put an alkaline substance in you stomach and your brain says "Hey - we need more acid in the stomach". I've found that doing just the opposite is much more effective. When I do get a bit of heartburn, I eat an apple. The bit of acid in the apple turns off the "add acid to the stomach" switch and the fiber helps move things through the digestive track. I've recommended this to several people and they have been amazed at how well it works. While nothing is 100%, sometimes, if things get out of hand, I will dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in water and drink it. I think I last had to do this about 2 years ago. I've identified two causes of heartburn, for me, anyways: too much fat or undercooked baked goods, such as bread, muffins, biscuits, etc.

Good homey (opathic) advice, Howie. Befits your practical nature!

Yes, there's lots of folks that take antacids because they think of them as "easy fixes". The Tums and Pepto Bismol crowd is usually looking for something to counter the effects of over eating, over drinking, and poor eating/drinking decisions (wrong kinds of foods that create reactions; eating heavy foods just before lying down, etc.).

But there's a more serious side too Esophageal cancer, for one. Also acid reflux and corrosion of the esophageal lining.

I'll confess that I was occasionally bothered by 'acid indigestion' for some years. Then, all of a sudden, it was constant and very problematic----but it happened to be one of the side effects of my getting a stomach ulcer. Thank you, h. pylori GI doctor scoped me, diagnosed me, put me on bed rest and restoratives for severe anemia, and gave me one of the true magic pills of the modern era: omeprazole. Probably better known to people as Prilosec.

That was over ten years ago, and haven't had a problem since. No more acid reflux. No more gastric problems. No more acid indigestion. And omeprazole is over the counter now.

It's not the "immediate quick fix" that Tums promises (but doesn't deliver, just masks the problem). You have to take the pills for a couple of weeks before they give you maximum effect. But for those cursed with the h. pylori, omeprazole is a godsend.

[David M. Bueker]

Thank heavens omeprazole was created by a benevolent pharmecutical company. We can trust them.

One of the interesting discoveries of the last decade is the differences in gastric ecology between individuals, even those in the same family. I don't know enough about the root causes of indigestion, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that one or another of the bugs taking residence in your digestive tract has a bearing on your propensity for indigestion and/or heartburn. In that light, antacids are a classic palliative: they provide quick relief for symptoms without getting at the root cause. Modern medicine has placed a premium on palliative care for those conditions with poorly understood or complex etiology.

Mark Lipton

One of the interesting discoveries of the last decade is the differences in gastric ecology between individuals, even those in the same family. I don't know enough about the root causes of indigestion, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that one or another of the bugs taking residence in your digestive tract has a bearing on your propensity for indigestion and/or heartburn. In that light, antacids are a classic palliative: they provide quick relief for symptoms without getting at the root cause. Modern medicine has placed a premium on palliative care for those conditions with poorly understood or complex etiology.

Mark Lipton

You're one of those sexy macho pedant wine types, aren't you?

Did you graduate summa cum laude? And do you know the subject both generally and specifically?

You're one of those sexy macho pedant wine types, aren't you?

What's it to you, big guy? Pedant, certainly; macho, not likely; sexy, who are you tryin' to kid?

Did you graduate summa cum laude? And do you know the subject both generally and specifically?

Y'know, that'd make some great sig material, I hear. Properly attributed, of course.

Mark Lipton

Until you guys have spent a night sleeping sitting up with stomach acid crawling up your throat...or, even worse, inhaling that acid into your lungs while sleeping and waking up spitting bile with a dandy case of pneumonia and 101 deg + fever to top it all off. And then trying to go back to sleep..much less make it to work the next day. Don't knock Tums...they were a lifesaver for many years for a lot of people.

Surgery…don’t let em’ kid you if you are considering Nissan Fundiplication. DON’T DO IT….change your eating habits, your lifestyle, lose weight, whatever it takes..just don't believe the cutters until you try everything else. You won't like the side effects.

God Bless those mean ol’ pharmaceutical companies for developing wonder drugs like Prilosec or Nexium. They can have my money....hell, they already do.

Wish they’d have had those wonder drugs before the surgery.

Richard

I'm one of the lucky ones in that I do not suffer from heartburn. I do, however, occasionally suffer from the occasional "queasy stomach". Best cure that I have found is an ice cold Coca Cola. Truth is, that's the only time I drink Coke but it works. (Many hospitals give patients a bit of Coke syrup to deal with minor upset stomachs)

Best
Rogov

I routinely get mild heartburn, usually in the late afternoon and again right before going to bed. It's never too serious and it tends to be linked to what I eat. One Tums is all it takes to get rid of it, so I've never paid much attention. I keep a jar at home and one at work.

Interestingly, I remember that when I was a kid, my dad always had a pack of Tums in his pocket. His mom had much of her stomach removed via ulcer surgery, so I guess it runs in the family.

[Jenise]

I routinely get mild heartburn, usually in the late afternoon and again right before going to bed. It's never too serious and it tends to be linked to what I eat. One Tums is all it takes to get rid of it, so I've never paid much attention. I keep a jar at home and one at work.

Interestingly, I remember that when I was a kid, my dad always had a pack of Tums in his pocket. His mom had much of her stomach removed via ulcer surgery, so I guess it runs in the family.

If you're a routine sufferer, maybe you should go on omeprazole. The idea would be not to put out the fire (Tums) but to stop the fire from starting (omeprazole) because even little fires do inflict lasting damage (of the type Hoke spells out). I have to take it because it suppresses asthma symptoms, but one pill about every three days is sufficient therapy.

If you're a routine sufferer, maybe you should go on omeprazole. The idea would be not to put out the fire (Tums) but to stop the fire from starting (omeprazole) because even little fires do inflict lasting damage (of the type Hoke spells out). I have to take it because it suppresses asthma symptoms, but one pill about every three days is sufficient therapy.

Yeah, I've thought about that but it's pretty mild stuff - just enough that I can tell it's there but rarely anything more than that. If I get any indication that it's getting worse, I'll ratchet up the therapy a notch.

My wife, Liz, pops a Tums once in a while just for the calcium.

My wife, Liz, pops a Tums once in a while just for the calcium.

Me too.