ARTA Health
Gary Sawatzky | COO and Director of Member Services, ARTA
Prolonged Use of
Proton Pump Inhibitors
In the winter 2017 edition
of news&views (available
for download from
goo.gl/VjQZd3), we
wrote about the maximum
recommended duration to take
proton pump inhibitors (PPIs),
which are medications often
prescribed by physicians to treat
gastroesophageal refl ux disease
(GERD), refl ux esophagitis,
dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease,
Barrett’s esophagus, and
symptoms associated with
stomach acid such as heartburn
and acid indigestion. The article
included a reference to the AGS
Beers Criteria of Potentially
Inappropriate Drugs, which
recommends avoiding use of
PPIs beyond eight weeks in
older adults, and the potential
negative health eff ects of taking
a PPI beyond the maximum
recommended duration.
While some members may
be taking PPIs because they
require longer term treatment
for their health condition, there
may be a signifi cant number
of ARTA members who do not
need to take PPIs to treat an
ongoing medical condition.
12 | arta.net
Here are some diet and lifestyle
alternatives that may potentially
reduce PPI use.
• Watch what you eat. A
number of foods can trigger
heartburn. You should pay
attention to what you are
eating in order to avoid
certain foods that may
be giving you heartburn.
Common foods that may
cause heartburn include
alcohol, fried food or junk
food, spicy food, garlic or
onions, citrus fruits, chocolate
and peppermint, beverages
that contain caff eine, and
tomatoes.
• Eat smaller meals.
• Do not eat before going
to bed. You should also lie in
bed with your head raised by
using extra pillows.
• Stop smoking. Studies show
that smoking raises your risk
for heartburn and acid refl ux.
• Lose weight. Studies (see
goo.gl/PKiq1n) show that by
dropping a few pounds, you
could reduce heartburn and
acid refl ux.
• Wear loose clothing, rather
than tight. The added pressure
from tight fi tting clothes that
constrict your abdomen can
make heartburn worse.
There are also a number of
natural remedies that may be
used to treat heartburn.
• Try baking soda. A teaspoon
of baking soda (a base
substance) neutralizes stomach
acid so that even if it comes
up, you won’t feel a burning
sensation. Mix one teaspoon
of baking soda with eight
ounces of water and drink all
of it. Repeat, if needed, not
exceeding seven doses in a
day. If you have high blood
pressure, or are on a sodium-
reduced diet, you should
consult with your doctor
before using this alternative.
• Chew gum. People
experiencing heartburn
can get some relief by
chewing sugar-free gum
for thirty minutes after
they eat, according to a
study conducted by the
Journal of Dental Research
(goo.gl/5dGXML). Chewing
a piece of gum stimulates
the salivary glands, which
increases saliva. The saliva