A Discussion of Three Different Types of Heartburn Medications
When you have your first experience of heartburn, you may think you're having a heart attack.
No matter how painful the sensations might be, however, they have nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your stomach.
When stomach acid builds up and is forced back up your esophagus, it produces heartburn.
Therefore, the key to avoiding heartburn is to keep your stomach acid low and flowing the way it is meant to flow.
This isn't always possible, though, and then you need some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and help your body get back on track.
There are a number of different types of medications that are used for heartburn, and they are all effective in their own way.
You're probably most familiar with antacids, such as Tums, that work to neutralize stomach acid and eradicate the pain.
If you keep a bottle of antacids in your home and carry some in your purse or pocket, you'll be good to go whenever an attack might hit you.
Antacids usually work quickly, and taking them as per the instructions on the bottle will most likely get rid of the problem right away.
However, you need to keep in mind that not every medication is going to work the same for every person who takes it.
If antacids alone aren't doing the trick for you, you may want to try a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which will lower the production of stomach acid thereby lessening your chances of getting heartburn.
If you've heard the TV commercials advertising Prevacid, you know that it is a PPI that is prescribed for patients suffering with acid reflux, which is an acute form of heartburn.
This is not an appropriate medication for everyone who suffers from occasional bouts of heartburn, though, so talk with your doctor to see if he feels you will benefit from taking it.
It can lead to diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea in some cases.
A third type of heartburn medication consists of H-2 blockers, such as Zantac, which can be purchased over-the-counter.
These medicines are much less potent than their prescription counterparts, but they may take care of your problem, because they do effectively block acid production.
If you suffer from heartburn, even infrequently, you're sure to want to find some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and even keep them from coming in the first place.
Talk to your physician about your options, and let him recommend the best course of action for you.
No matter how painful the sensations might be, however, they have nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your stomach.
When stomach acid builds up and is forced back up your esophagus, it produces heartburn.
Therefore, the key to avoiding heartburn is to keep your stomach acid low and flowing the way it is meant to flow.
This isn't always possible, though, and then you need some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and help your body get back on track.
There are a number of different types of medications that are used for heartburn, and they are all effective in their own way.
You're probably most familiar with antacids, such as Tums, that work to neutralize stomach acid and eradicate the pain.
If you keep a bottle of antacids in your home and carry some in your purse or pocket, you'll be good to go whenever an attack might hit you.
Antacids usually work quickly, and taking them as per the instructions on the bottle will most likely get rid of the problem right away.
However, you need to keep in mind that not every medication is going to work the same for every person who takes it.
If antacids alone aren't doing the trick for you, you may want to try a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which will lower the production of stomach acid thereby lessening your chances of getting heartburn.
If you've heard the TV commercials advertising Prevacid, you know that it is a PPI that is prescribed for patients suffering with acid reflux, which is an acute form of heartburn.
This is not an appropriate medication for everyone who suffers from occasional bouts of heartburn, though, so talk with your doctor to see if he feels you will benefit from taking it.
It can lead to diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea in some cases.
A third type of heartburn medication consists of H-2 blockers, such as Zantac, which can be purchased over-the-counter.
These medicines are much less potent than their prescription counterparts, but they may take care of your problem, because they do effectively block acid production.
If you suffer from heartburn, even infrequently, you're sure to want to find some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and even keep them from coming in the first place.
Talk to your physician about your options, and let him recommend the best course of action for you.
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