Most people suffer occasionally from indigestion or heartburn. However, a question like can taking heartburn drugs cause pneumonia is not something anybody would expect. Recent research has found a possible link between an increased risk of developing pneumonia and two kinds of prescribed drugs frequently used to treat heartburn. The risk factor is 25% higher for people using one of the specific drugs compared to non-users.
Two kinds of popular prescribed drugs have been identified as the culprits in a series of studies performed across the world. Both types of drugs are widely prescribed for heartburn or ulcers. Popular over-the-counter medications for indigestion do not pose the same threat.
Modern lifestyles, including stress, lack of exercise and refined or unhealthy fast food diets, play a significant role in the worldwide increase in people suffering from heartburn and ulcers. Even children as young as six are increasingly suffering from one or both ailments. Billions of dollars are spent annually on medication for acidity-related indigestion problems.
The studies found that people on either one of the drugs were about one-quarter more at risk to develop pneumonia than non-users. The findings apply to hospital patients as well as out-of-hospital patients who developed pneumonia while they were taking one of the specific drugs. One explanation is that the medication neutralizes the stomach acid so that bacteria that normally would have been killed, now survive and can end up in the lungs.
The results of the studies are not cast in stone. It is not conclusive that the specific drugs are the only cause of the problem. One researcher warned that the chronic reflux of acid can also partly cause the increased occurrence of pneumonia. It is possible that stomach acids can end up in the airways or lungs where it can cause pneumonia.
The findings suggest that doctors as well as patients should practice caution in prescribing or using drugs for the relief of heartburn. Medication can have harmful effects that vary from patient to patient. Adapting one's eating habits and/or lifestyle is often enough to solve the problem.
Medication for heartburn should only be taken when a diet and lifestyle changes do not solve the problem. Even then, medication to relief the symptoms should be taken cautiously and at the lowest dose possible. Prescribed medication for chronic symptoms should be the last resort.
The best action plan to curb stomach acidity and heartburn is to identify the cause. Various foods contribute to, or aggravate heartburn because they relax the lower esophageal sphincter which can cause the reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus. Food and drinks that contain caffeine are common culprits.
Other contributing factors include smoking, overeating and wearing clothes that are too tight fitting. It is better for the digestive system to rather have five to eight small portions of food per day than having one or two large meals. Late night snacks or going to bed with a full stomach also increase the chances of refluxed food. One should avoid clothing that fits too tight around the waist.
Two kinds of popular prescribed drugs have been identified as the culprits in a series of studies performed across the world. Both types of drugs are widely prescribed for heartburn or ulcers. Popular over-the-counter medications for indigestion do not pose the same threat.
Modern lifestyles, including stress, lack of exercise and refined or unhealthy fast food diets, play a significant role in the worldwide increase in people suffering from heartburn and ulcers. Even children as young as six are increasingly suffering from one or both ailments. Billions of dollars are spent annually on medication for acidity-related indigestion problems.
The studies found that people on either one of the drugs were about one-quarter more at risk to develop pneumonia than non-users. The findings apply to hospital patients as well as out-of-hospital patients who developed pneumonia while they were taking one of the specific drugs. One explanation is that the medication neutralizes the stomach acid so that bacteria that normally would have been killed, now survive and can end up in the lungs.
The results of the studies are not cast in stone. It is not conclusive that the specific drugs are the only cause of the problem. One researcher warned that the chronic reflux of acid can also partly cause the increased occurrence of pneumonia. It is possible that stomach acids can end up in the airways or lungs where it can cause pneumonia.
The findings suggest that doctors as well as patients should practice caution in prescribing or using drugs for the relief of heartburn. Medication can have harmful effects that vary from patient to patient. Adapting one's eating habits and/or lifestyle is often enough to solve the problem.
Medication for heartburn should only be taken when a diet and lifestyle changes do not solve the problem. Even then, medication to relief the symptoms should be taken cautiously and at the lowest dose possible. Prescribed medication for chronic symptoms should be the last resort.
The best action plan to curb stomach acidity and heartburn is to identify the cause. Various foods contribute to, or aggravate heartburn because they relax the lower esophageal sphincter which can cause the reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus. Food and drinks that contain caffeine are common culprits.
Other contributing factors include smoking, overeating and wearing clothes that are too tight fitting. It is better for the digestive system to rather have five to eight small portions of food per day than having one or two large meals. Late night snacks or going to bed with a full stomach also increase the chances of refluxed food. One should avoid clothing that fits too tight around the waist.
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