Heartburn does not have to be a major issue. Almost everyone has it at sometime or another, but in today's society the amount of people suffering from it on a regular basis is high.

One of the main problems is the lifestyle we lead. Now more than ever we eat fast food or pre-packaged meals. We are always on the move and a lot of us are under a great deal of stress. More and more people are over

There are also complications with GERD that can lead to even worse conditions,one such complication is Barrett's esophagus. This is when a change occurs in the cells that line the esophagus due to continuous reflux. The cells become pre-cancerous and this if left can turn to cancer of the esophagus.

Your doctor when doing his diagnosis can send you for an endoscope inspection of the esophagus, duodenum, and stomach and will probably prescribe acid reflux medication to counter the effects of the acid reflux on the esophagus.

There are three main types of acid reflux medication:-

Antacids

Despite the development of modern drugs purely for the treatment of acid reflux antacids are still the mainstay of treatment for most people. Antacids will neutralize the stomach acid so that there is no acid reflux. The problem with antacids is that there action is quite brief and sufferers with GERD will probably re-accumulate the acid within a couple of hours. Antacids are based on aluminium, magnesium or calcium as the main ingredient.

One problem with antacids containing calcium carbonate is they stimulate the production of stomach acid which in turn produces what is called acid rebound where even more more acid is produced. The problem with antacids containing aluminium is that long term us can deplete calcium and this can lead to osteoporosis and the risk of kidney stones. Long term use of calcium based antacids can raise the levels of calcium in the blood which can cause kidney failure. Magnesium based medication may cause diarrhea.

Histamine antagonists

The first medications that came about for the specific job of reducing stomach acid are called histamine 2-receptor antagonists (H2 antagonists). They work by blocking the histamine a chemical which stimulates the production of acid.

The main advantage H2 antagonists have over antacids is that they lasts a lot longer, 6-10 hours as opposed to antacids 1-2 hours. They have a greater desired effect and can be taken before a meal to reduce the chance of heartburn happening.

Cimetidine (tagamet) was the first H2 antagonist from which later and better examples of the drug were produced.

After a few different H2 antagonists hit the market a more refined example called Ranitidine. Ranitidine (common brand name Zantac) has a far improved tolerability (fewer adverse drug reactions). It also has a longer lasting action and has 10 times the activity of Cimetidine.

Proton pump inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI, s) are the latest type of drug manufactured specifically for digestive disorders like GERD and stomach ulcers. They are the most potent of all the drugs used to fight acid reflux. They have largely superseded H2 antagonists and are one of the best selling drugs in the world because of there greater capacity to stop acid reflux and there apparent lack of side effects. The main advancement with PPI, s is that there effects last much longer than the h2 antagonists. They also are far more effective in stopping the production of stomach acid and will completely and effectively stop its production.

The digestion system is very complex and the production of stomach acid is initiated by a hormone called Gastrin which when active stimulates the lining of the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid. PPI, s work on the enzyme system (Gastrin proton pump), there action stops the production of the Gastrin hormone thereby stopping the secretion of acid into the stomach. The drug is highly efficient, significantly more so than the H2 antagonists and can reduce the symptoms of acid reflux by up to 99%. The effects also last much longer from upward of 24 hours.

This reduction of stomach acid is not only good for stopping heartburn, but also aids in the healing of duodenal ulcers in the stomach. By stopping acid production completely the drug also allows the esophagus to heal and protects against inflammation or damage to the esophagus.

PPI, s are used for severe or persistent cases of acid reflux and is also used when there are complications, allowing damaged tissue to heal. If h2 antagonists have been taken and are not working then a switch to PPI, s is what is required.

Omeprazole (Prilosec) is one of the most effective PPI, s and quite a few drugs have been modelled on it. Other PPI, s on the market include Lansoprazole (Prevacid, Rabeprazole (aciphex), Pantoprazole (Protonix) and Esomeprazole (Nexium). PPI, s are best taken about one hour before meals. They work best when the gastric juices are most active and that is after a meal, so taking it beforehand means they are at peak levels in the body when the acid is most active.

Of course taking medication is only part of the cure for acid reflux. Lifestyle changes eating habits and diet should all be taken into consideration, as well as loosing weight, stopping smoking, and not lying down after a meal. There are quite a few other ways in which you can help yourself, another alternative is to look for a natural cure.

About the Author

Raymond Harper has suffered from Acid Reflux Disease for over ten years. In the quest to find out information and alternative cures he developed a web site www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com to document all his findings about heartburn, hiatus hernia and GERD, hopefully it will help other sufferer For information, tips and articles please visit www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com