The patient keeps a diary of symptoms while the recorder measures the amount of reflux. Another test attaches an acid monitor temporarily to the inside of the esophagus and wirelessly sends the data to a recorder. If the reflux persists even when the medicines are timed properly, Rubenstein might up the dose or prescribe a more powerful PPI.
Another option is adding another medicine that keeps the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach tight. Before such measures, Rubenstein stresses the lifestyle changes that can help symptoms. Occasional heartburn is common, especially after big meals, and usually is not serious. But sometimes, that burning sensation can indicate something more serious , such as ulcers, bleeding or an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.
Gastroenterologists recommend contacting your doctor's office if your heartburn won't go away after two weeks, you're having trouble swallowing, or your heartburn is causing nausea and vomiting. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Politics Covid U. News World Opinion Business. And when you do need a PPI, you should take the lowest dose for as short a time as possible.
More than half of the people who take PPIs probably do not need them. Simple heartburn can be treated with antacids or other drugs, plus diet and lifestyle changes.
You may only have heartburn every now and then—such as after a big, spicy meal. This may be uncomfortable, but it is not serious. If you need a PPI, taking a low dose for less than a year is probably safe. PPIs are expensive and have been linked to higher risk of some problems.
Unfortunately, many of these studies have not shown PPIs to cause these side effects and, at the most, have shown association, not causation. The difference between association and causation is best explained with an example. If we say people who drive yellow cars get into car accidents, I think we understand that just because the car is yellow, does not mean the color of the car caused the accident.
In the same way, just because the people who were taking PPIs in these studies had increased risks of certain side effects, does not mean the PPIs caused the side effect.
Particularly with side effects like dementia and pneumonia, larger studies have been conducted that have not shown any association or causation related to PPIs. This does not mean that PPIs do not have side effects.
PPIs, like all medications, can cause side effects and interact with other medications. It is important to only use PPIs if you need them. If you do take a PPI, it is important to try to decrease the medication to the lowest effective dose with the help of your healthcare provider. Working on healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss can lead to a significant decrease in the use of these medications. For those who are concerned about the association between PPIs and osteoporosis, it is important to take preventative measures like getting enough calcium and vitamin D.
It is equally important to do weight-bearing exercises to help maintain bone strength while working on decreasing the dose of your PPI.
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