Why You Shouldn´t Try Curing Acid Reflux with Nexium

As a medicament prescribed to treat symptoms of acid reflux, Nexium was launched in 2001 and achieved sales of more than $5.7 billion in 2005 to become the world's third-largest selling drug. Prior to talking about the way that Nexium acts in cases of acid reflux, its possible side effects and healthier options, let's discuss acid reflux disease in general.

Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is what happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not shut correctly. The LES is a circular muscle acting as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. If stomach acids flow back into the esophagus to make contact with its lining, the person can suffer from a burning feeling in the chest and /or the throat, also known as heartburn. Some people say that they have a feeling of food lodged in their throat, choking or constriction of the throat or a continuing dry cough.

Together with the disagreeable, painful sensations already mentioned, severe complications can also result when acid reflux is ignored. When the esophagus is continually inflamed, ulcers or bleeding can result, and scar tissue can lead to strictures of the throat and difficulties in swallowing. Older victims of acid reflux may also suffer from Barrett's esophagus, where the esophageal lining cells assume unusual shapes and colors. In time, this may develop into cancer. For this reason, a rapid and correct diagnosis of acid reflux must be made and then treated in a timely way.

Classical medications against acid reflux conditions can be classified into four main groups: antacids, alginates, PPI (proton pump inhibitors) and H2-receptor antagonists. Nexium is in the PPI category, the medicaments that aim to lower the amount of stomach acid by blocking the stomach mechanism that produces this acid, also known as a proton pump.

Treatment based on Nexium has three severe disadvantages:

The first is that by preventing acid generation in the stomach, Nexium works on the symptoms of acid reflux in a temporary way to reduce acid reflux pain. The drug has to be taken every day to prevent acid reflux recurring and a lifelong dependency is then the result. An important comment here is that GERD is a condition that is the result of a complex set of environmental, dietary and lifestyle aspects, and that stomach acid is only the symptom of this.

The second is that the inhibition of stomach acid production can in fact provoke more acid reflux and long-term indigestion as one of the natural functions of acid in the stomach is to aid the body in nutrient absorption and defense against Candida and parasites.

The third is that the regular consumption of nexium can bring about a multitude of side effects that commonly include diarrhea and severe headaches, but have also been associated with osteoporosis.

A recent report from the Netherlands involving 360,000 patients concluded that use of nexium could dramatically increase the risk of pneumonia for an acid reflux sufferer. The research team leader, Robert J.F.Laheij, notes that using nexium to decrease the stomach acids that kill germs leaves acid reflux patients open to pneumonia generating bacteria.

Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, indicated that people over the age of 50 who had used nexium for 12 months or more, were considerably more at risk for fractures of the hip. Yu-Xiao Yang, MD, research team leader and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, says that acid reflux sufferers should think about alterations in diet and lifestyle as a safer, healthier alternative. According to Dr. Yang, this solution can decrease or even obviate the requirement for PPIs.

Were you aware that your burdensome, distressing symptoms of acid reflux could be eradicated forever without needing to endure conventional medicaments such as Nexium and their secondary effects?

Following the holistic approach (taking defined supplements of herbs and vitamins, together with a complete program of Candida control protocols and dieting principles) can resolve acid reflux naturally and prevent its return effectively and safely.




Jeff Martin is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Heartburn No More- Open The Door To an Acid Reflux Free Life". Jeff has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To Learn More About Jeff Martin´s Unique 5-Step Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Heartburn No More. For further information visit: Nexium for Acid Reflux