If you take a top-selling class of drugs to relieve heartburn and acid reflux, you may be at greater risk of having a heart attack than people who take other types of acid-suppressing medications.
In a recent study, researchers found that adults who were prescribed proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) as a treatment for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were 16 to 21 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack over a 17-year period. Even a modest boost in PPIs could translate into a sizable increase in heart attacks in the U.S., because millions of Americans are taking these acid-reducing drugs.
What does this mean for people who take heartburn medications?
Stephen Wangen, ND, discusses the recent study and if there are other alternatives to treating heartburn.
Heartburn Drugs Linked to Heart Attack Risk
What are these specific drugs and why are the linked to heart attack risk?
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 3
- Audio File: health_radio/1528ml1c.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Stephen Wangen, ND
- Guest Website: IBS Treatment Center
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Stephen Wangen is the co-founder and Medical Director of the IBS Treatment Center. He is a licensed and board certified physician, the award winning author of two books on solving digestive disorders, and a nationally recognized speaker.
He has been seen and heard on ABC, NBC, and Fox as well as public radio and television. He was recently named one of Seattle's Top Doctors by Seattle Magazine.
His passion for being a doctor and solving digestive problems comes from a lifelong obsession with optimizing health. Having suffered from IBS as a young man, Dr. Wangen dedicated his life to solving this complex problem. He now trains other doctors at the IBS Treatment Center in the new specialty of IBS medicine.
Since 2005 the IBS Treatment Center, with locations in both Seattle and Los Angeles, has successfully helped thousands of patients from around the country and the world end their digestive problems. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: Yes
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Published in
Health Radio