These reflux symptoms can’t be treated with acid reflux tablets
Acid reflux tablets are the most common treatment for reflux. But while some reflux-related symptoms are treatable with medicine, others are not. Read more to learn when acid reflux tablets are effective and when they’re not.
Acid reflux is a common health problem all over the world. In western countries almost 20 percent of the population are suffering from reflux-related symptoms.
Common symptoms related to acid reflux:
- Feeling of a lump in the throat
- Hoarse voice
- Thick mucus
- Persistent dry cough
Since acid reflux is so common, medication is widely used. It’s often prescribed to people suffering from any of the symptoms above, but you can also buy some of the medicines over the counter without prescription.
Acid reflux tablets can result in serious side effects
Common reflux medicines like PPIs are ideally meant to be used over a short period of time.
The reason is that PPIs can have quite serious side effects when used for a longer duration.
- According to a recent study, benefits and risks of long term and short term use of PPIs should be considered carefully.
- Another study concluded that avoiding PPIs may prevent the development of dementia.
- A third study found that PPIs might increase the risk of gut infections.
- A fourth study found that even short term use of PPIs can have a negative cognitive impact on the user.
Possible side effects
To sum up, according to studies, some possible serious side effects are increased risk of:
- Dementia
- Bone fractures
- Gut infections
- Cardiovascular disease
- Pneumonia
- Decreased absorption of nutrients
Reflux medication has limited or no effect on these symptoms
Sometimes you might get tablets prescribed for symptoms related to reflux. But in some cases this might not help – or it might just help you a little.
This is backed up by a study at NHS hospitals where researchers conclude acid reflux tablets should not be used for persistent throat symptoms.
Lump in the throat
If you have the feeling of a lump in the throat, acid reflux medication won’t help you. In most cases this sensation comes from throat muscles not working properly.
These malfunctioning muscles can give a cramping sensation and make it hard to swallow food.
Created by a muscle weakness
The problem comes from an imbalance in a chain of muscles used when you swallow food. The main cause is a hiatal hernia – when a muscle called the diaphragm has become weak.
Tablets are prescribed despite having no effect
According to the study mentioned above, acid reflux tablets are often prescribed for symptoms like a lump in the throat, even though the medication has no effect on this symptom.
Marlene finally got rid of the feeling of a lump in her throat
Marlene was prescribed acid-suppressing tablets for the persistent feeling of a lump in her throat. It didn’t help and the symptoms were mentally stressful. After 2.5 months with IQoro, the lump was completely gone.
A simple and easy exercise that really works Read Marlene’s story
Hoarse voice
A hoarse voice comes from stomach acid irritating your vocal cords.
The study mentioned above also found that PPIs have no more effect on hoarse voice than dummy pills (placebos).
Thick mucus
When you have acid reflux, thick mucus is your body’s way of defending your food pipe against the corrosive stomach acid.
Medicine doesn’t remove the mucus
Acid reflux tablets might decrease the damage from stomach acid on your food pipe. This might also decrease the amount of mucus in your throat, but it doesn’t remove it entirely.
So while you might get less thick mucus, you might still have it to some degree.
Persistent dry cough
Persistent dry cough has the same roots as a hoarse voice. When stomach acid irritates the vocal cords, coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of the irritating acid.
As with hoarse voice, researchers found that PPIs have the same effect on coughing as dummy pills.
Get rid of these symptoms with IQoro
All the symptoms above are treatable with IQoro. The symptoms are created by a weak muscle – the diaphragm – which is exercised when you use IQoro.
Weak muscles create the symptoms
When the muscle becomes weak, it allows stomach acid to flow up into the food pipe. And it also affects other muscles that then stop working correctly.
IQoro exercises the weak muscles
IQoro exercises the weak muscles which in turn can help you get rid of the symptoms. Every treatment takes 30 seconds and it is done regularly for your muscles to become stronger.
When your muscles become stronger, the symptoms also decrease.
A few months with IQoro got Julie off the PPIs
One night about ten years ago her acid reflux suddenly started, always reappearing at bedtime! PPIs and lifestyle changes didn’t help. But after a little more than 3 months of treatment with IQoro Julie Lane is once again sound asleep at night.
Eventually I thought “Well, I got nothing to lose really, apart from 150 pounds worth”. It was the best 150 pounds ever spent so I´m not complaining now. Read more
How IQoro works
Watch the video on how IQoro can exercise your muscles and treat your symptoms.
“I have had a hernia for many years & was taking PPIs which didn’t work & had side effects. The reflux was horrendous to the point I was struggling to breathe. I have been using this for 3 months. I now use it once or twice a day. It has changed my life, I can now sleep through the night.”
Patricia H, verified customer.
Sources
Akter S, Hassan MR, Shahriar M, Akter N, Abbas MG, Bhuiyan MA. Cognitive impact after short-term exposure to different proton pump inhibitors: assessment using CANTAB software. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2015; 7(1): 79. doi: 10.1186/s13195-015-0164-8.
Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26714488
Bavishi C, Dupont HL. Systematic review: the use of proton pump inhibitors and increased susceptibility to enteric infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011; 34(11-12): 1269-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04874.x.
Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21999643/
Persistent throat symptoms should not be treated with pills that reduce stomach acid. National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Available at https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/throat-symptoms-should-not-be-treated-with-ppis/
Gomm W, von Holt K, Thomé F, et al. Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors With Risk of Dementia: A Pharmacoepidemiological Claims Data Analysis. JAMA Neurol. 2016; 73(4): 410-416. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.4791.
Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26882076/
Eom CS, Jeon CY, Lim JW, et al. Adverse Effects Associated with Proton Pump Inhibitor Use. J Clin Med. 2019; 8(10): 1331. doi: 10.3390/jcm8101331.
Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7887997/