Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a very common disease condition, which affects millions of people of all age groups. GERD is caused when the stomach contents and the digestive acids present in the stomach, tend to leak back into the esophagus, against the natural path of peristaltic movement of the alimentary tract. There are several different options of acid reflux medicine available which include antacids, acid suppressants, acid blockers, anti spasm medicines as well medicines that protect the mucosal lining of the esophagus.
Factors such as overeating, tight clothing, nicotine containing substances (such as tea, cigarettes, etc), coffee and other caffeine containing products, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen), spicy foods (containing garlic, onion, etc), oil-dripping fatty foods, peppermint, mint, chocolates, etc, act as triggers and encourage acid reflux in the body. The reflux of digestive acids into the esophagus creates a burning sensation in the chest, right behind the sternum, which is referred to as heartburn. The most common symptoms of heartburn include - painfulness or a burning sensation in the chest and the throat, sourness or bitterness in the mouth, chronic coughing, difficulty in swallowing, and respiratory complications such as wheezing or asthma-like symptoms. Apart from severe heartburn, some of the other common symptoms of heartburn include a persistent sore throat, problem in swallowing and chronic dry cough problem.
There are many cures for acid reflux available. You can take an acid reflux medicine to help relieve your condition. So if you have this condition, which kinds of acid reflux drugs are recommended by doctors?
Antacids. These drugs are used to neutralize the acids in the digestive system and promote the defensive actions in the body by increasing the production of bicarbonate and mucous. They can be bought without the doctor's prescription.
Histamine blockers. Histamine blockers obstruct the production of stomach acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that promotes the production and secretion of acids in the stomach. Anti-histamines are available even without prescription and offers relief of symptoms in most of the patients with frequent acid reflux.
The three most popular histamine blockers are Ranitidine, Famotidine and Nizatidine. They act by stopping the secretion of gastric contents and promoting the healing of ulcer by getting rid of it root cause.
Proton Pump Inhibitors block the hydrogen/potassium enzyme system, which is the last step in getting the stomach to produce acid. This drug can have irreversable effects (greatly reducing the amount of acid the stomach produces) and is generally prescription only because of this. This category of drug (sold under the brand names Prilosec and Nexium) is not available as an over the counter agent, but does have effects that persist for days (the cells that they inhibit eventually are replaced by the body's healing agents.)
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