Chronic, persistent heartburn is more than just a pain; it can wear away the lining of the esophagus, and cause long-term damage. Thank goodness for Nexium, which provides relief for many men and women.
For too long, heartburn sufferers have relied on chalky liquids and chalkier tablets to relieve the burning sensation that signals acid reflux or heartburn.
Waiting until after symptoms occur is one way of approaching treatment, but Nexium gives you more control. Lifestyle changes may help, but they don’t help everyone. Combined with a medication that’s proven to work, you may see dramatic improvement.
You can stop heartburn before it starts with the famous, little purple pill, and that’s better than chasing after symptoms.
So maybe it’s time you join the scores of people who have found the relief they were looking for.
Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and GERD: What’s the Difference?
Heartburn and acid reflux are sometimes used interchangeably, although they mean something slightly different. GERD might be a new term to you, but it’s also related.
Heartburn is the sensation that you feel when stomach acids move up into the esophagus. It’s that bitter, burning feel, accompanied by the heaviness that’s sometimes felt in the stomach. Acid reflux is the condition that causes the sensation of heartburn to occur.
GERD is an acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD is a term that means chronic, persistent acid reflux.
If you experience occasional heartburn, then you may have acid reflux. If your acid reflux happens twice or more a week, you may have GERD. Your doctor can make that diagnosis.
How Acid Reflux Happens
Ordinarily, the esophagus keeps stomach acids where they belong — in the stomach. The LES or lower esophageal sphincter, which is a valve in the esophagus, closes tightly, sealing off the stomach until you swallow.
When you swallow food, the LES relaxes just long enough to let food reach the stomach. Then is closes again, and keeps acids down.
In people with acid reflux disease, the LES does not function like it’s supposed to. It doesn’t stay closed, which allows those acids to move back up into the esophagus, leading to the heartburn sensation.
Where GERD goes uncontrolled for a long time, the lining of the esophagus may become damaged.
The Causes Vary, but are Partly Controllable
While there may be a physical condition, such as a hiatal hernia, that causes acid reflux, there are many lifestyle choices that play a big role.
People who are overweight may suffer heartburn more often than those who are not. If you’re a smoker, experience a high level of stress, eat overly large meals, or wear tight clothing that restricts the stomach, these may also be partly to blame.
The foods that you eat can contribute to acid reflux, too. Spicy and greasy foods, as well as those with a tomato-based sauce, are notorious heartburn triggers. But there are others that might surprise you.
Citrus fruits and juices, garlic, caffeinated drinks including coffee and tea, and carbonated drinks can cause the LES to relax. Mint tea is often recommended to soothe an upset stomach, but it’s another heartburn trigger.
Aspirin and other pain relievers, some vitamins, and prescription medications can also relax the LES.
While lying flat doesn’t necessarily cause acid reflux, it can increase the heartburn symptoms. Try elevating the head of your bed or using a wedge-shaped pillow to let gravity help control some of severity of heartburn symptoms.
How Nexium Can Help
The Little Purple Pill known as Nexium is specifically formulated to give 24-hour relief to chronic acid reflux sufferers. The pill is taken once a day, and lasts until your next dose.
Although a relaxing of the LES is what allows stomach acids to rise up into the esophagus, Nexium doesn’t approach the problem that way. Instead of focusing on the LES, it zeroes in on the acids pumps in the stomach.
Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs in Nexium switch some, but not all, of the acid pumps off. Less stomach acid means less acid to move up into the esophagus.
The erosion of the esophageal lining is another problem that many acid reflux patients suffer from. Although your stomach is designed to tolerate stomach acids, your esophagus is another story.
Over time, a condition called erosive esophagitis or EE can develop. It can be serious, but Nexium steps in to help here, too. Within as few as 4 to 8 weeks, many esophagus erosions are healed.
Although Nexium, combined with some day and nighttime lifestyle changes, can help you find relief from GERD, you should know that symptom relief doesn’t mean there isn’t an underlying condition. Tell your doctor about the symptoms you experience, and let her determine whether your symptoms are caused by something else that needs to be addressed.
Typical side-effects of this medication may include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If any of these are serious, tell your doctor right away. Taking Nexium for an extended period of time may increase your susceptibility to bone fractures and low magnesium levels.
Other medications, including vitamins, may interfere with how Nexium works, and the same is true in reverse — Nexium may interfere with some medications. Be sure your doctor knows about all medications that you take.
For chronic heartburn sufferers, Nexium offers 24-hour relief in a simple, once-daily dose. Taken before a meal, this medication can reduce or eliminate the uncomfortable sensation, heal esophageal lining damage, and give you something you might have thought was impossible.
Nexium may give you a life without chronic heartburn.
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