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Eating outside junk food for a long time can cause you to face indigestion, stomach pain and digestive problems. Apart from this, eating too much food at one time also causes flatulence. Some people have acidity problems after eating food every day. Eating mostly fried or spicy food can also cause acidity problems. We often take medicines to reduce the problem of acidity. According to doctors, frequent consumption of medicines to reduce acidity can prove to be harmful to health. Apart from this, Dr. Rebecca Pintu, a physiotherapist and nutritionist, knows what harm can be caused by taking acidity medicines repeatedly. Dr. Rebecca shared a reel about the harm on her Instagram account.
Side effects of taking acidity medicines
Digestive problems
Acidity medications, especially magnesium-containing antacids, can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea. In contrast, tablets containing aluminum can cause constipation. Some individuals may experience both symptoms simultaneously when using magnesium and aluminum-containing antacids.
Nutritional deficiencies
Long-term use of acidity medications can interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients. For example, a lack of stomach acid impedes calcium absorption, increasing the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Additionally, stomach acid is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12. Long-term use of acid suppressants can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, resulting in anemia and neurological problems. Additionally, PPIs can lower magnesium levels, which can lead to symptoms such as muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
Kidney problems
Long-term use of these medications increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. It is believed that these medications can cause inflammation and damage to kidney tissue over time.
Stomach acid acts as a barrier against infection by killing harmful bacteria , Decreased stomach acid can increase the risk of infections such as: bacterial diarrhea and colitis.
Rebound Acid Hypersecretion
Abruptly stopping a PPI after long-term use can cause stomach acid production to increase again, worsening symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. This can create a cycle where the person feels compelled to start taking the medication again.
Types of medicines for acidity
1). Antacids
Antacids are over-the-counter medicines that neutralize stomach acid. They usually contain ingredients such as magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate.
2). H2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers)
H2 blockers reduce acid production by blocking histamine receptors in the stomach lining.
3). Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
PPIs are prescription and over-the-counter medications that block the enzymes responsible for acid production in the stomach.
You can adopt home remedies for the problem of acidity. But, taking medicine repeatedly can also cause many other harm to your health. If you have frequent acidity problems, then you should take acidity medicine only after consulting a doctor. Do not take any medicine without consulting a doctor.