Millions of Americans suffer from heartburn/acid indigestion each day. When the body’s valve between the stomach and esophagus fails to function properly, acidic stomach juices bubble back up into the esophagus; the pain felt in the unprotected esophageal cells from this is called heartburn; however, not all heartburn is caused by acid produced in the stomach. For some people, it appears to be the additional acid ingested in acidic foods and beverages which causes the problem, other than, or in addition to their own stomach-generated acid.
It's an acid world out there. Many people start their day with a cup of hot acid-coffee-and a cup of cold acid-orange juice, and the rest of their day is filled with similarly acidic foods ranging from pizza and salad dressing to soft drinks, beer and wine. All this adds up to a great deal of discomfort for a lot of people, with widely ranging unpleasant symptoms, from burning heat or pain below the breastbone, to urological pain and urgency at the lower levels.
The occasional sufferer can rely on antacids such as Maalox* , Mylanta*, Rolaids*, Tums*, which work by neutralizing the acid produced in the stomach. Lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding trigger foods, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and losing weight, if necessary, are often recommended. If these measures do not work, there are the so-called “H2 blockers” such as Tagamet H*, Pepcid AC*, Zantac 75*, Axid AR*, which inhibit acid secretion in the stomach. Additionally there are the stronger acid suppressors called proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) such as Prevacid*, Nexium*, and Prilosec*.
Unfortunately for users of the H2 blockers and PPI’s, prolonged use of them is being demonstrated as being associated with respiratory and intestinal infections; this is because shutting down the stomach’s acid also shuts down one of the potent bacteria killers the body possesses, the gastric acid. For more information on this go to “What you should know about acid-blocking drugs”.
But there is some good news here: you can turn to Prelief®, the OTC dietary supplement that instantly and safely neutralizes the acid in offending foods. The use of Prelief does not predispose to the problems associated with the H2 blockers or PPI’s because the use of Prelief is keyed only to the additional acid taken in with foods; it does not interfere with the body’s own acid defense mechanisms.
Prelief: If you prevent the symptoms in the first place, you don’t have to cure them.
