What are the health benefits of reducing stomach acid?
28 November 2008
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One CommentI recently suspected I was developing an ulcer, and my doctor gave me a prescription of an acid reducing medication. Immediately, my nausea and headaches went away, but also I feel like my digestion is better and have pretty much stopped having diarrhea as well.
How else did too much stomach acid negatively affect my health, and what other benefits could I experience?
Okram: nope. Because I wasn’t experiencing any pain (only nausea), he said to try the acid reducers for a month first.
Excessive acid production can erode the lining of your esophagus and over time cause lacerations called strictures. These can cause esophageal cancer, which is difficult to treat. Treating this with acid reducers called proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Nexium) is the best way to cut acid production. These should only be used as long as your physician recommends. The benefits will include healing of any erosions on your esophagus and healing of ulcers. Your doctor did test you for H. pylori infection though, didn’t he?
29 November 2008 at 7:19 am