Acid Reflux and the Emergency Room: An Insider Report
Do you remember how you felt when you were rushed to that part of the hospital, thinking you had had a heart attack, were having trouble breathing, and had no idea what would happen next?
If you’re like me, I’m sure you can remember the emotions in that particular event (especially the first time it happened). After calming you down with powerful sedatives and a series of tests, the truth was revealed. You don’t have a heart problem. You have what is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) or simply acid reflux. And for a while he experienced what is known as heartburn.
Nothing serious, says the doctor and her nurses (or so they say).
You take a minute or so to thank God it wasn’t worse, and the resident doctor assures you that you’re not alone, since that other guy in the ICU just got diagnosed with GERD and he gives you a little talk about stress and diet. and how it creates and aggravates reflux. She gives her the emergency medicine she needs, a prescription, along with advice to get a follow-up checkup from a specialist.
Obviously, you follow the doctor’s instructions, take all the recommended treatment and return to your normal lifestyle. That lasts 2 weeks maximum. Then it happens.
Again.
They take you back to the emergency room. For the same.
Why?
According to gastroenterologists (people who specialize in digestive disorders), acid reflux occurs when acid from the stomach backs up the lower part of the esophagus into the throat and causes irritation. Reflux levels vary as it can be just an occasional nuisance, but if left untreated it can become a life-threatening condition.
But why doesn’t the prescription medication eliminate the problem? What’s wrong with taking these medications?
1. Liquid or regular antacids (eg Maalox, Tums, Kremil)
2. Medicine to reduce acid secretion (for example, Nexium, Prevacid, Losec, Zantac)
3. Medicine to improve the action of the stomach muscles (eg Motilium, Plasil)
Almost everyone who has GERD knows that these types of medications are only prescribed for 1 to 2 weeks. After that, they are supposed to stop and the medication is supposed to do its job. Most of the time, however, this is not the case.
But when they take him back to the ER, they still give him the exact same thing (or in larger doses this time). In the worst case, they give you additional medication.
Have you ever wondered why conventional medicine focuses more on the symptoms of acid reflux than on the root of the problem? Why do they insist on using the “band-aid” treatment approach when there are safer, natural ways to get rid of your condition…for good?
Luckily someone told me about them before it was too late.
