Understanding GERD: Causes, Symptoms, and the Dangers of Long-Term PPI Use

15 Nov Understanding GERD: Causes, Symptoms, and the Dangers of Long-Term PPI Use

By: Elena Klimenko, MD

It’s a GERD Awareness Week!

This week is dedicated to raising awareness about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition that affects millions and can seriously impact the quality of life if left unmanaged. GERD Awareness Week is an opportunity to share insights into what causes this condition, its symptoms, and effective strategies for relief and management.

Our goal is to empower you with knowledge that can help you better understand GERD and make informed decisions about your digestive health.

After you eat, do you often get an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest? Or do you find yourself coughing and clearing your throat uncontrollably?

We understand these can be painful, disruptive, and embarrassing issues to experience. If this sounds like you, then you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

This condition commonly known as acid reflux occurs when the valve at the end of your esophagus becomes relaxed or weak and does not close properly when food enters your stomach. As a result, the acidic contents within the stomach may flow back up into your esophagus and mouth causing irritation and tissue damage over time, not to mention a sour (and disgusting) aftertaste in your mouth.

It’s Not Just You!

GERD is actually very common. The condition and its symptoms impact a huge number of people—up to 20% of the United States population.

Typically, GERD most often affects individuals who:

• Are over 40, overweight or obese
• Have poor eating habits, like overeating or eating before bedtime
• Overconsume “irritating” foods, like dairy, spicy foods, or fried foods
• Take certain medications
• Experience prolonged stress
• Smoke
• Have a history of asthma or a hiatal hernia

This exhaustive list encompasses almost everyone, right?

Well, let’s not forget individuals who are pregnant may have too much pressure in the abdominal area, which also leads to GERD. In fact, some pregnant women may experience heartburn almost daily because of this increased pressure.

Symptoms of GERD

The most common symptom of GERD is “heartburn”, which is indigestion or a chest sensation after eating. This may be accompanied by:

• • Difficulty swallowing
  • Sore throat or hoarseness in voice
  • Regurgitation or vomiting
  • Frequent coughing or repeated clearing of the throat
  • Bad breath and poor dental health
  • Tiredness and poor sleeping habits

Let’s Talk About PPIs

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed drugs for GERD to help keep symptoms at bay. This class of medications is designed to block enzymes and reduce the secretion of acid in the stomach.

However, individuals are often placed on PPIs for an extended time and can have long-term consequences due to low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), which may include:

• • Inability to properly break down protein
  • Lowered vitamin B12 absorption
  • Decreased vitamin C synthesis
  • Impaired mineral absorption (calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron)
  • Changes in your microbiome (good bacteria in your gut)

So, as an informed participant in your healthcare options, you should know that getting off these medications is not as simple as it sounds. In fact, PPIs can be one of the hardest medications to stop taking.

These medications can be addictive, physiologically but also psychologically, as individuals often cling to them for a sense of security against the very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. If there is one thing you need to know, it is that the longer you take PPIs, the harder it is to get off the medication.

With that in mind, restoring normal function and reversing nutrient depletion after a person has been treated with PPIs for an extended period is often marked by successes and setbacks.

Because compliance is paramount for getting off a PPI, it must be a gradual process guided by your practitioner, giving you the confidence, education, and clinical support required to succeed. Gradually reducing or tapering treatment has achieved better success compared to abrupt cessation, and a gradual approach may allow for adaptation within your stomach cells to help curb acid production comfortably. Quitting PPIs cold turkey is not a viable option, and it may take several months to see progress on that front.

We Have Better Solutions 

• • Take our GUT HEALTH questionnaire so we can better understand your gut health concerns and/or goals.
    
    
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