Heart burn pills increases the risk of stomach cancer

Chronic heartburn, caused by stomach acid splashing into the gullet, also known as acid reflux, affects many people. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)  is popularly used 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. 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. It is important to clarify that the UCL findings do not prove these drugs cause cancer, and researchers stressed the risk of stomach cancer in patients on the drugs is still small.

Chronic reflux can cause cells in the gullet to grow abnormally, a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus that’s thought to affect one in ten people with reflux. Left untreated, this can develop into oesophageal cancer. PPIs such as Nexium, Zanprol, Prevacid and Prilosec, work by suppressing the release of stomach acid by cells, called proton pumps, in the stomach lining. In theory, PPIs should reduce oesophageal cancer rates by treating acid reflux.

An investigation in 2016 by Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands revealed men who regularly took PPIs were three times more likely to have low sperm counts. Meanwhile, research from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. in 2015 found that those on PPIs were 90 per cent more likely to develop kidney failure, while a study conducted by McGill University in Canada in 2015 found that they raised the risk of hip fractures by 44 per cent. In all the studies, the longer people stay on them, the bigger the risk. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already acted on PPI safety fears and nearly 300 patients in New Jersey have filed lawsuits in the past year or so claiming the drugs left them with kidney damage and that manufacturers knew about the risks but failed to warn them.

Stomach acid protects against infection by destroying the spores containing the C.difficile bacterium before they infect the gut. But if the stomach is producing very little acid because PPIs are being taken every day, it boosts the bug’s chances of thriving. Lab research at Stanford University in the U.S. showed that the drugs don’t just turn off acid pumps in the stomach-they also block production of acid in every cell in the body. Each cell has an area called a lysosome, which contains enzymes that help to break down damaged or defective proteins, the debris from the ageing process. But these enzymes only work properly in acidic conditions.

If the lysosome is unable to release acid to help with this process (because PPIs have blocked the mechanism), waste material builds up and cells age quicker. People with acid reflux should be able to control it by quitting smoking (a big risk factor), losing weight or raising the head of the bed by six to eight inches (which stops gravity pulling acid out of the stomach during sleep). 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.
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Dangers of taking excess caffeine

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in tea, coffee and cacao plants, it stimulates the brain and central nervous system. Regular intake of caffeine lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Taking excess caffeine increases the amount of acid in the stomach and may cause heartburn or upset the stomach. Excess caffeine consumption may raise blood pressure.

An overdose of caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathing trouble. In rare cases, caffeine overdose can result in death due to convulsions or irregular heartbeat.

Drinking caffeine in large amounts may interfere with absorption and metabolism of calcium, this can cause osteoporosis. Too much caffeine can also cause slowed fetal growth and increased risk of miscarriage.
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Use synbiotics for gut health

Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for digestive system. Probiotics are said to keep gut and digestion healthy by replacing the bad bacteria with good one.

Synbiotics combined a probiotic bacterial strain with prebiotics, which actually feed and increase the good bacteria in the gut.

Probiotics can not survive for a long periods of time, heat and stomach acid can kill them, making them ineffective before digestion.

 Synbiotics are the best way to ensure a maximum benefit from the ingested probiotics. It is the combination of probiotics and prebiotics to feed the human microbiome. Synbiotics could have beneficial effects on obesity and diabetes.

Research has linked our gut health to a range of conditions like obesity, depression, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Probiotics may prevent and treat fatty liver disease and keep it from advancing to liver cancer.

 Pre-and pro-biotics work together to provide a combined benefit, while the probiotic settles in and pushes out the bad bacteria, the prebiotic feeds the growth of positive strains.

A healthy, balanced microbiome breaks down foods, protects human from infection, trains immune system and produces vitamins K and B12. It also controls mood, anxiety and appetite.
Imbalances in the gut are linked to a range of conditions.

The composition of human gut microbiota is determined by genes but it can also be influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol intake, exercise, and medications.
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Symptoms of low stomach acid

Stomach acid, hydrochloric acid HCl is made in the stomach and used to break down food. It also breaks down the proteins, aids in mineral absorption and activates intrinsic factor that is needed to absorb B12.

It prevents bacteria and parasites attack in the stomach, low stomach acid levels may cause imbalances in gastrointestinal GI bacteria and digestive discomfort.

Low stomach acid prevents proper food breakdown in the stomach, it leads to fermentation and gas production. Low stomach acid can cause fullness, bloating, discomfort, and low appetite.

Irregular bowel movements, imbalance gut bacteria, food allergies and skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, hives, or rosacea are symptoms of low stomach acid.

Stomach acid reduces as we get older, stress, chewing of gum, nail biting, drinking of water that has chlorine or florine can lower acid levels. Use of antacids can also reduce stomach acid.
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Heartburn drugs increases untimely death

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a heartburn drug is linked to different health problems like kidney damage, bone fractures and dementia.

Researchers examined medical records of users of PPIs and people who took another class of drugs for treatment of stomach acid. They discovered that there is an increased risk of death among PPI users.

Researchers compared patients taking H2 blockers with those taking PPIs for one to two years and discovered that patients taking  PPIs had a 50 percent increased risk of dying over the next five years.

PPIs and H2 blockers are used for treating serious medical conditions like upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heartburn and esophageal cancer.
Long-term use of PPIs increased risk of death.
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