The Hidden Dangers of Heartburn
Is regular heartburn or indigestion anything to worry about? My 60-year-old husband eats a lot of Tums or Rolaids throughout the day to help him manage it, but it keeps him up at night too. What can you tell us?
Almost everyone experiences heartburn or acid indigestion from time to time, but frequent episodes can signal a much more serious problem. Here's what you should know, along with some tips and treatments to help relieve your husband's symptoms.
It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, with around 15 million people suffering from it daily. If your husband is plagued by heartburn two or more times a week and it is not responding well to over-the-counter antacids, he needs to see a doctor. Frequent bouts may mean he has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can severely irritate and damage the lining of his esophagus, putting him at risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer if it is not treated.
H-2 Blockers: Available as both over-the-counter and prescription strength, these drugs, including Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid and Zantac, reduce how much acid your stomach makes but may not be strong enough for serious symptoms.
Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent and severe heartburn symptoms, PPIs are long-acting prescription medications that block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. They include Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, Aciphex and Dexilant. Prevacid 24 HR, Prilosec and Zegerid OTC are also available over-the-counter. But be aware that long-term use of PPIs can increase your risk for osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease.
Surgery: If medications don't do the trick, there are also surgical procedures that can tighten or strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent gastric fluids from washing back up into the esophagus.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Almost everyone experiences heartburn or acid indigestion from time to time, but frequent episodes can signal a much more serious problem. Here's what you should know, along with some tips and treatments to help relieve your husband's symptoms.
It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, with around 15 million people suffering from it daily. If your husband is plagued by heartburn two or more times a week and it is not responding well to over-the-counter antacids, he needs to see a doctor. Frequent bouts may mean he has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can severely irritate and damage the lining of his esophagus, putting him at risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer if it is not treated.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Depending on the frequency and severity of his heartburn, there are a number of lifestyle adjustments he can make that can help provide relief and avoid a more serious problem down the road. Consider these tips:- Avoid problem foods: Certain foods can trigger heartburn symptoms, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, fatty foods, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy foods, mints, alcohol, coffee and sodas. Your husband should keep a food diary to track which foods cause him the most problems and avoid them.
- Eat smaller, slower and earlier: Having smaller portions at mealtime and eating slower can help reduce heartburn symptoms. He should also wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
- Lose weight: Having excess weight around the midsection puts pressure on the abdomen, pushing up the stomach and causing acid to back up into the esophagus.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can increase stomach acid and weaken the valve that prevents acid from entering the esophagus. If your husband smokes, the National Cancer Institute offers a number of smoking cessation resources at SmokeFree.gov or 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
- Sleep elevated: To help keep the acid down while sleeping, get your husband a wedge-shaped pillow to prop him up a few inches. If that's not enough, try elevating the head of his bed six to eight inches by placing blocks under the bedposts or insert a wedge between his mattress and box spring. Wedges are available at drugstores and medical supply stores. Sleeping on his left side may also help keep the acid down.
Treatment Options
If the lifestyle adjustments don't solve the problem or if antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta or Alka-Seltzer aren't doing the trick there are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help. His doctor can help him determine which one is best for him. Treatment options include:H-2 Blockers: Available as both over-the-counter and prescription strength, these drugs, including Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid and Zantac, reduce how much acid your stomach makes but may not be strong enough for serious symptoms.
Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent and severe heartburn symptoms, PPIs are long-acting prescription medications that block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. They include Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, Aciphex and Dexilant. Prevacid 24 HR, Prilosec and Zegerid OTC are also available over-the-counter. But be aware that long-term use of PPIs can increase your risk for osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease.
Surgery: If medications don't do the trick, there are also surgical procedures that can tighten or strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent gastric fluids from washing back up into the esophagus.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Published July 14, 2017
