Anyone who’s had heartburn will vouch for how painful it can be. And it’s also extremely common. Chronic heartburn, caused by stomach acid splashing up into the gullet, also known as acid reflux, affects around seven million people in the UK.
In England alone, GPs dish out an estimated 55 million prescriptions a year for medication known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat the condition.
Available both on prescription and over-the-counter at lower doses, PPIs are among the top ten most regularly taken drugs in Britain, according to research recently published by the University of Cambridge.
Yet concerns are beginning to emerge about the safety of PPIs, especially among patients who continue to take them for months or even years — rather than the recommended maximum of two to four weeks.
A study this year by University College London (UCL) involving 63,000 patients, found those taking PPIs for two weeks were twice as likely as those not on the drugs to develop stomach cancer in the following seven years.
If they stayed on them for a year, they were five times more at risk of cancer. And after three years of taking the drugs daily, the risk rose eight-fold.
Scientists think PPIs may linked to cancer by stimulating a hormone called gastrin, known to play a part in triggering the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach.
What Causes Heartburn?
Heartburn is a condition where some of the stomach contents are forced back up into the esophagus, therefore, creating a burning pain in the lower chest. It is also known as acid reflux – a condition caused by gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and this happens more than twice a week.
This condition often occurs when the lining of the esophagus comes in contact with too much stomach acid for a long period of time. Consuming specific foods and drinks can result in heartburn. These include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and spicy or fatty foods. Also, conditions such as being overweight, pregnancy, stress, smoking, anxiety as well as some medicines like anti-inflammatory painkillers and a hiatus hernia (a part of the stomach moves up into the chest) may trigger this condition.
Natural Remedies for Heartburn Relief
Avoiding foods that can cause heartburn (which was stated above)
Quitting smoking
Chewing gum
Drinking a glass of water
Eating meals that are rich in protein
Changing your body position, such as sleeping sideways, standing up straight after meals, and elevating the head and upper body when lying down.
Losing weight and eating smaller meals
Sipping a baking soda concoction
Practicing deep breathing exercises
Adding herbs such as horse-radish, mint, caraway, dill, bay, fennel, cumin, tarragon, ginger, marjoram, cardamom and cinnamon in the food that you are cooking
Drinking chamomile or fennel tea
Adding a mixture of a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drinking it 30 minutes before eating
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