Can You Take Too Many OTC Antacids?

 Ever get that burning sensation in your chest, like someone lit a match behind your breastbone?

You are probably one of the 15 million Americans who suffer from acid reflux every day. Acid reflux is when acidic substances in your stomach come up into the esophagus. The result can be a mild to intense burning in the stomach, chest or throat.

The most common way to keep acid reflux at bay is to take over-the-counter antacids, but how much is too much?

Dr. Anish Sheth, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at Yale University, says antacid overdose is seldom a problem for most Americans.

“The main concern is developing electrolyte abnormalities like hypercalcemia from ingesting too much calcium,” Sheth told FoxNews.com.

Hypercalcemia, or an overabundance of calcium in your blood, can cause constipation, abdominal pain, excessive thirst and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic web site. These symptoms typically occur in severe cases only.

Over-the-counter antacids come in pills, chewable tablets, powders, liquid and chewing gum that neutralize acid in the esophagus. They are the safest way to subdue symptoms of heartburn; just pay close attention to the directions and dosage on the label, Sheth said.

“They are good because they work quickly and are OK for people who have infrequent symptoms, like after a big meal or drinking binge,” Sheth said.

If you’re not into popping antacid pills all day, there are other lifestyle changes that can lessen the frequency of heartburn. Diet plays a big role in the frequency and severity of heartburn. Avoiding certain foods like tomato products, caffeine, chocolate and alcohol can help. Losing weight may also benefit a patient suffering from acid reflux.

But for some people, over-the-counter medications and changes in lifestyle don’t provide enough relief.

“For people who have symptoms more than 2-3 times per week, stronger medications, which decrease the acidity of stomach juices, are better,” Sheth said. “Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prevacid and Prilosec are the strongest medications and resolve symptoms in a majority of patients.”

Acid reflux can be a particularly bothersome medical condition because it often tends to be chronic, affecting some people on a daily basis. But at what point do heartburn sufferers need to see a gastroenterologist about their condition?

“If you have worsening symptoms despite taking medications, are older than 50, or a family history of esophageal cancer, you should see your doctor,” he said.

Other red flag symptoms include trouble swallowing, weight loss or irregular bleeding.

Dark Roast Coffee May Be Heartburn-Friendly

 Ever get a sour stomach after your morning coffee? Well, you might end up switching to a dark roast—because that coffee concoction may leave you with a happier tummy. That's according to research presented at the American Chemical Society meeting in San Francisco.

Some coffees are labeled "stomach friendly," because they're steam treated to drive out caffeine and other chemicals thought to cause gastrointestinal distress. But food chemists wanted to know exactly which chemicals were behind the heartburn.


So they took extracts of two coffee blends—one light, one dark—and their steam-treated counterparts. Each extract proved to be a unique chemical mix, with different amounts of caffeine and other compounds.

When the researchers served these coffee extracts to cultured human stomach cells, the cells jacked up acid production. Except in the case of one extract, high in a compound called N-methylpyridinium—a chemical produced in the roasting process that's not found in raw green coffee beans. And the darker the roast, the more there is.

Now the researchers are test roasting a stomach-soothing N-methylpyridinium blend. Human trials will determine if it has all the boldness with none of the acid reflux.

Acid Reflux and IBS May be Linked

Researchers say there may be a link between acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Scientists studying over 6,000 patients found that those who had acid reflux were more likely to have symptoms than those who didn't suffer from heartburn. Researchers say there is some evidence that a systemic problem--maybe with smooth muscles--may underlie both conditions.
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Tiny Magnets That Can Cure Your Heartburn

 A magnetic bracelet that sits inside the body could be a radical new treatment for heartburn. The bracelet is made up of a dozen titanium beads, each of which contains a tiny magnet.

The device is fitted around the bottom of the esophagus - the 'pipe' through which food travels to the stomach.

Once in place, the magnets pull together. This stops acid from the stomach leaking back up into the esophagus and burning its delicate lining, causing heartburn.

When the patient swallows, the beads are gently forced apart, sliding along the tiny metal arms that link them together.

This allows food to pass through into the stomach.

Once it has, the magnets pull together again to form a seal.

Around 150 patients in the U.S. have already been fitted with the revolutionary device, and results have been very encouraging.

The bracelet, known as the Linx device, was also recently approved for use in the UK.

Heartburn affects around one in three people at some point in their lives. It is caused by the powerful hydrochloric acid found in our stomach juices.

The stomach produces this acid to break down food. In a healthy body, the acid is prevented from flowing back up the esophagus by a small muscle called the lower esophagus sphincter, which works like a one-way valve to control the flow of food into the stomach.

But if this muscle does not work properly, acid can leak up into the esophagus, causing the pain of heartburn. Causes include fatty foods, as they take longer to digest so sit around in the stomach for longer.

Spicy dishes can irritate the lining of the gullet, and alcohol can also trigger the symptoms by making the muscle relax.

Treatment usually involves over-the-counter antacid pills, which dampen down the inflammation in the esophagus caused by leaking fluids. But anyone suffering more than twice a week could have a condition called Gastro Esophagus Reflux Disorder, or GERD, where the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by excess acid exposure.

Left untreated, GERD can increase the risk of ulcers and even cancer of the esophagus.

7 Steps That Can Halt Heartburn

Over-the-counter antacids and prescription medications are the most common treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In the most severe cases, surgery may even be required. But regardless of how bad your GERD symptoms are, successfully fighting heartburn and acid reflux also requires some changes in lifestyle, ranging from the food you eat to the clothes you wear.

If you stick to them every day, these seven habits may help minimize GERD symptoms.

Small, frequent meals

Meals are often a trigger for GERD symptoms. In fact, all-you-can-eat buffets are almost always a recipe for heartburn.

A very full stomach can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus (known as the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) to relax, pushing stomach acids back up into the esophagus.

Eat several small meals throughout the day rather than the standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Don't make that last meal too late, though: Eating close to bedtime can trigger GERD symptoms as well.)

Cut the cake

Be it chocolate or caffeine, certain foods and drinks are notorious for exacerbating GERD symptoms.

The list includes spicy foods, fatty red meat, French fries (and other fried foods), citrus fruit, raw onion, tomatoes, butter, oil, peppermint, chocolate, and caffeine.

Don't drink alcohol

Alcohol is a bad idea for most people with GERD, especially if you drink too much, or on a regular basis—alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter.

A 1999 study in the American Journal of Medicine found that the percentage of people reporting reflux symptoms increased with the number of drinks consumed weekly. Those who quaffed more than seven drinks per week were the most likely to have heartburn.

Another reason to shed pounds

Excess weight can contribute to heartburn and acid reflux. A 2003 study of more than 10,000 people in the International Journal of Epidemiology found a strong link between GERD symptoms and body mass index (BMI). Obese people are nearly three times more likely than people of normal weight to have heartburn and acid reflux.

Experts aren't exactly sure why. Excess abdominal fat may place pressure on the stomach, but it may also cause chemical or hormonal changes that make the body more susceptible to acid reflux.

Don't wear tight clothing

Much like excess belly fat, clothing that's a tight fit around the midsection can push against your stomach and force acid into the esophagus.

Sure those pants look cute, but is it worth it? If you have heartburn, skip belts, waistbands, hosiery, and undergarments that may be too tight.

Head up, sleep better

What does sleep have to do with heartburn? More than you might think. Avoid eating before bedtime and elevate your head six to eight inches while you sleep.

This position doesn't necessarily reduce the frequency of acid reflux, but research shows it helps stomach acid drain from the esophagus more quickly. One study reported a 67 percent increase in acid clearance time.

Don't own a Craftmatic Adjustable Bed? Prop up your bed on specially designed blocks or use a foam wedge, both of which you can find at most home stores. (Piling up the pillows isn't as effective.)

Quit smoking

Everyone knows that smoking damages your heart and lungs. But what about your digestive system? Yep, that too.

Nicotine, like alcohol, may worsen GERD symptoms by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter.

Smoking also causes bile salts to migrate from the small intestine into the stomach and reduces the amount of saliva you produce. (Saliva helps flush stomach acid out of the esophagus and contains a natural acid-fighter, bicarbonate.)