About half the population worldwide suffers from a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Some of these include heartburn, acid reflux, chronic constipation, bloating, and irritable bowel. According to a recent study, these disorders are linked a significantly lower quality of life.

More than twenty percent of people in the US experience reflux symptoms. Some will self prescribe while others will visit a health care provider. Either way, most will end up misdiagnosed. They'll be diagnosed with too much stomach acid, when the reverse is most likely true.

You may have started taking over the counter antacids because you had indigestion. It may have even led you to visit your physician. Your doctor may have prescribed a PPI that is causing you to experience unpleasant side effects. More than half of American adults use over the counter antacids.

Of these users, seventy five percent take more than six doses of antacids per week. Repeated use has not eliminated the problem and often leads to taking stronger acid blockers, or PPIs, which come with side effects and health risks in the future.

What Are PPIs?

PPIs reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. Doctors often prescribe these acid blockers when a patient presents with heartburn, acid reflux or even stomach pain. These prescriptions are commonly written without medical tests or proof of necessity.

We’ve been trained to listen to and respect doctors to the point that we ignore the signals the body sends and blindly trust medical providers. Even when they write a prescription without performing tests to determine if they are necessary.

Yet studies consistently show that proton pump inhibitors are being overprescribed worldwide in both primary and secondary care. Between 25% and 70% of patients taking these drugs have no appropriate indication. (1) Not only is this a waste of money, but it also comes at significant risk to health.

Risks of Blocking Stomach Acid

What are the risk factors of blocking stomach acid? Because we all need stomach acid and many who are taking acid reducers have the reverse problem, these tend to lead to more problems in the future. Blocking stomach acid when you likely already have too little creates more distress.

The risks include dementia, Alzheimers, nutritional deficiencies that may lead to osteoporosis. Blocking stomach acid may result in a higher risk of developing kidney stones, and an even increased risk of chronic kidney disease.

Long term use of acid blockers to lower stomach acid can also lead to SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth.) And that's not all.

According to Dr. Thomas Sehested, the leader of a study by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN):“… We would recommend that people should not take these drugs unless there is a clear indication for them. Many people are taking them unnecessarily or they are continuing to take them long-term when they don’t need to. I would urge doctors to review their patients on PPIs and look at why they are taking these drugs and consider whether they really need them or if they could take a lower dose.”If this new research isn’t enough to make you consider a more natural option for managing your heartburn, take a look at some of the other dangers of PPIs:– Long term use of PPIs has been found to increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections, osteoporosis, and pneumonia.– Long term use of PPIs has been associated with higher risk of developing dementia.– Blocking the stomach from making hydrochloric acid can decrease your body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients, including calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B12.– Although many people (including physicians) believe that PPIs will reduce the risk of getting esophageal cancer, recent research has found that long term use of PPIs may actually increase the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.– People may become “addicted” to PPIs.