Dr. Apurva Ahirrao
GERD can significantly impact your quality of life causing discomforting symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and many more.
While traditional medical treatments, such as antacids, may provide temporary relief, long-term reliance on these medications can lead to several drawbacks.
Prolonged use of antacids can lead to drug resistance, making them less effective over time.
Antacids can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as iron, vitamin B12, and calcium, potentially leading to deficiencies.
Excessive antacid use can disrupt the balance of electrolytes in the body, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat.
Masking GERD symptoms with antacids can delay the diagnosis of more serious conditions, such as peptic ulcers and hiatal hernia.
Prolonged use of antacids creates an imbalance in the gut microbiome. This imbalance is known as dysbiosis.