It?s estimated more than 6 million people in the US habitually take antacids.

The fear is that these antacids cause more harm than good, internally bleeding is only one of the adverse effects of taking these stomach acid products.

Generally, most people have the misunderstanding that these anti-stomach-acid gimmicks somehow protect the stomach. Instead they can cause an extreme amount of harm.

Researchers of Stanford University revealed those people eating antacids and H2-blockers actually experienced more than DOUBLE the serious gastrointestinal problems than people who took plain sugar pills (placebo).

The Great Antacid Cover-Up

Frankly, the health issue is also an ethics issue simply because millions of people are treating symptoms of acid indigestive problems in an attempt to cover them up, instead of seeking effective treatments.

This misleading advertising and selling of over-the-counter antacids encourages people with stomach acid problems to delay addressing the root cause until the digestive issues worsen.

Another medical concern is that another study from the Oklahoma college of Medicine reported most antacid customers suffer from other, often worse medical conditions. Gastroenterologists point out that blocking or neutralizing digestive acid production masks ?alarm symptoms.?

A well known Swedish study proved more than twenty years ago that antacids trigger acid rebound and increase risk of ulcers and other infections from causing dangerous pH imbalance of beneficial micro-organisms in the intestinal tract.

So according to the results, or ?lack of results,? ?millions of people are experiencing antacids causing an even higher production of stomach acid and digestive juices, which unfortunately can exhaust the stomach acid making cells (parietal cells) ultimately creating a clinically chronic stomach acid deficiency.

Bottom line is if you sincerely desire to prevent acid indigestion, completely avoid taking over-the-counter antacids all together.

The Bone Chilling Truth About Antacids

Another shocking deception is that countless people suffering from arthritis have been told to eat antacids to get their calcium for bone growth. Sadly, there isn?t a single evidence-based study that shows the calcium contained in these harmful antacids can even be absorbed in the body.

The correct form of calcium is of the utmost importance for preventing symptoms of osteoporosis. Instead nearly a hundred million people a year who suffer from osteoarthritis symptoms are triggering their own gastrointestinal disorders from munching on these convenient antacid candies.

Most antacids contain mainly calcium carbonate, which because the body can?t absorb it and has no use for limestone molecules, it ends up forming life threatening kidney stones and other health problems

This is one more outrageous example of the shear irresponsibility of drug companies to provide real help for people in need. It appears quite clear that the manufacturers of antacid products have designed these products to deceive consumers into eating massive amounts of potentially harmful products.

It?s common knowledge among leading physicians that people who suffer from symptoms of osteoporosis usually suffer from a lack of stomach acid production to begin with. In fact, their osteoporosis symptoms are directly related to the fact that they don?t absorb calcium well in the first place, because they need stomach acid to help absorb dietary calcium.

The Bucket List Goes on

Other dangers are toxic metals found in antacids. Toxic heavy metals like aluminum are absorbed causing nerve damage and accumulating in brain cells. Aluminum-containing antacids can actually cause osteoporosis and are especially risky for post-menopausal women.

This need not be . . . learning about self health options, natural remedies and other Complementary Alternative Medicines (CAM) will put you back on the healing pathway.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

12,000 Americans die each year from esophageal cancer, and its primary warning symptom is acid reflux. Acid reflux is a ?warning symptoms? of possible Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Keep in mind that acid reflux is a symptom and not a disease. Unfortunately because most people put of treating the root cause properly it winds up doing harm to the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when the esophagus gets irritated and inflamed from acid reflux splashing up from the stomach.

The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food. The stomach is naturally protected from this caustic digestive acid. The outer lining of cells in your stomach creates massive amounts of mucus.

However the cells lining the esophagus (throat) do not make this protective mucus coating, leaving it vulnerable to up surges of acid rebound.

Acid reflux, or rebound, is more commonly referred to as heartburn simply because the base of your esophagus is located behind your heart.

If you?ve ever experienced a bad case of acid indigestion, you?ve felt this burning sensation behind your heart at the bottom of your esophagus.

When the ?warning symptoms? are ignored, the stomach acid rebounds higher and higher up the esophagus chemically scalding the delicate cells along your throat, inside your mouth and even up into your sinus tissues.

You may wonder how it can surge up the esophagus and the truth is it shouldn?t ever do that because there is a ?safety valve that?s supposed to prevent acid reflux from erupting all the up the throat.

This seal or safety valve in the base of your esophagus is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). It?s designed to open when you swallow food or drink, allowing food stuff to enter your gut. After the food leaves the esophagus it?s supposed to close, sealing off and guarding your throat, mouth and sinus tissue, as well as keeping your food down where it belongs.

The problem is after proper treatment of your acid reflux is delayed for a long time, the corrosive stomach acid that has been pushed up against it and eventually weakens the muscle response of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Once the acid has had an opportunity to weaken the esophagus?s safety valve (LES), digestive juices and acids then begin leaking into the vulnerable esophageal tube area.

Eventually this develops into Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which erodes and mutates the cells of your throat often leading to throat cancer and sometimes death.

Approximately 30% of adults in the US experience this Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) on a monthly basis and about 10% of adults in the US go through this weekly. Shockingly, these days even children and infants develop Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), thanks to lack of common sense when it comes to dietary habits in America.

Fatty fried foods, alcohol, cigarettes, certain pharmaceuticals, lack of exercise and poor posture even play a role.

I found plenty of natural alternatives millions of people are discovering that help reverse Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), simply because acid reflux is primarily a nutritional deficiency, not a drug shortage.

OTC drugs have been found to actually make acid reflux worse, so my advice is if something you took didn?t work, keep trying new things, like eating an apple for instance, that works well for millions of people-in-the-know.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

In many predisposed individuals, one of the most alarming questions that they will face is: Can acid reflux cause palpitations? This is a particularly worry-causing condition since the symptoms often mimic the signs of a heart attack. While acid reflux is obviously not as life-threatening as a heart attack, it is still a painful and serious condition that warrants immediate attention.

The global scientific community seems to be in disagreement as to whether or not acid reflux causes palpitations. One Japanese study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2009 showed that conditions that are external to the esophagus may result in GERD, or at the very least produce the characteristic symptoms of the condition. The study also explores the connection between patients in which acid reflux causes palpitations and patients that were suffering from a heart condition.

Many people feel that can acid reflux cause palpitations simply because the nerves located in the chest are closely interconnected with the heart, the esophagus and the diaphragm. This is why it is often difficult for patients and doctors to determine whether it is the acid reflux causing palpitations or if it is a heart-related condition. Before a treatment can be prescribed, the doctor will first have to determine the root cause of the chest pain.

To make things even more confusing, a number of GERD medications may actually produce even more symptoms that are similar to those encountered by people experiencing heart attack. Aside from the aforementioned chest pain, these symptoms include flushing, hypertension and increased heart rate or tachycardia. There is some comfort gained from studies that show that only 1% of the population experiences such side effects, although this can still cause a significant amount of worry given that as much as 40% of the U.S. population suffers from GERD to at least some degree. Now with obesity rates rising all across the country, the number of patients think acid reflux will cause palpitations is almost certain to rise.

Since the two conditions?heart disease and acid reflux?are so often closely related, a general lifestyle change would be to a patient’s best advantage. While the issue as to whether or not can acid reflux cause palpitations is as yet a bit indeterminate, numerous studies show that addressing issues such as obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive caffeine, alcohol and tobacco intake will go a long way in preventing these and many other health related conditions.

One site offers a safe and effective solution for people with acid reflux cause palpitations. The site is www.refluxremedy.com, and it provides a totally natural alternative to prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, many of which can cause unwanted side effects. By relying on natural treatment methods, you may be able to avoid the unpleasant side effects of certain GERD drugs, and be assured of a lasting solution for your condition.

Attention all spicy food lovers! If you are like many people you love Mexican food, Chinese, and basically all if any, spicy and greasy foods because after all, ?they are simply delish ?. Even diet fanatics will dip into their secret cravings every now and then for some good old fashion burger and fries. So, what do you do when you when get that heartburn that won’t go away? Reach for your antacids, milk of magnesia, Tums, Maalox, Amphojel, Alternagel, Mylanta, Rolaids or Pepto- Bismol? These are just a few antacids that are intended to temporarily relieve heartburn, neutralize stomach acid, acid indigestion and upset stomach.

They are also recommended to relieve the pain of ulcers and some contain an ingredient called Simethicone that helps eliminate excess gas. These are some ?up sides? to antacids but take into caution the ?down sides?. Most of these antacids contain ingredients such as magnesium that causes diarrhea or aluminum for that feeling of constipation.

If Antacids work for you, great! But keep in mind that they are made for temporary relief and are not intended for long term use. On a serious note, if you are using antacids for heart burn you should take as directed by your doctor, according to the manufacturer’s directions. If you are using the tablets, chew them before swallowing for faster relief against heartburn that won’t go away.

Serious side effects can occur with an overdose or overuse of antacids which usually occurs because of long term use and a build up of tolerance to the medication. Side effects include constipation, diarrhea, changes in the color of bowl movements, and stomach cramps.

Where do you turn when antacids no longer do the trick and you are taking more than the recommended amount? You can always go to your good old doctor and tell him/her that you are taking too many antacids and suffering from constipation that is killing you more quickly than the acid reflux.

He will then do either two things depending on how severe your symptoms have become at this point, Prescription drugs, or H2 antagonists ?over the counter strength. More than likely he will try you take OTC antagonists first which is nothing but acid blockers for heart burn. These drugs relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach, with many different options that are available over the counter as well as prescription strength. Examples of H2 antagonists that are available over the counter include:

? Axid AR

? Pepcid AC

? Tagamet HB

? Zantac 75

The FDA has approved the proton pump inhibitors prevacid, Prilosec, and Zegerid for over-the-counter use to treat heartburn that won’t go away or occurs in more than two episodes per week, for 14 days. This drug also come in prescription strength and is intended to be taken in accordance to the directions provided by your doctor. You should consult with your doctor if your symptoms persists or get worst over a two week period.