Mainstream Stomach Drug Damages Kidneys!?
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
There’s a strange misconception out there that if a drug is over-the-counter it’s safe.
Yet thousands of people a year die just from taking aspirin.
And many people damage their liver or even die from taking too much acetaminophen.
Now there’s another common drug that can be deadly.
It’s one you’ll recognize immediately. In fact, 15 million Americans take this drug every day.
But a new study shows that taking this class of drugs can put your life in danger by destroying your kidneys.
And it can happen without a SINGLE sign that anything’s wrong.
*****
People don’t actually die from heartburn, but they can die from taking heartburn medications.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid) are some of the most prescribed drugs in the world, as well as the most purchased over the counter.
Yet they come with huge risks that NO ONE seems to be talking about, including heart disease and cancer.
And now a new study discovered something else to add to the list.
The research, published in the journal Kidney International, found that people who took PPIs for an extended amount of time could suffer severe kidney damage.
But even worse, the damage comes with almost no symptoms.
For the study, researchers analyzed nearly 150,000 medical records from the Department of Veteran Affairs, looking for a link between PPIs and H2 blockers like ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid)—both of which have their own issues, including recalls and calcium deficiencies (which you can read more about here).
At the end, they found that 80 percent of PPI users did not develop acute kidney problems.
But that doesn’t mean you’re safe.
Because more than half of patients with chronic kidney damage or disease resulting from PPI use never had serious kidney problems before then.
The research team pointed out that sudden, acute kidney problems are fairly easy to spot by doctors and patients, but a slow deterioration is much harder to notice.
And unfortunately, that’s exactly what could happen with heartburn medications: slow destruction of your kidneys.
The scientists in the study urged doctors to monitor ANYBODY on these drugs very closely.
But there’s a much better way to manage your chronic indigestion.
Dr. Scott’s Foolproof Formula to Avoid Heartburn:
- Avoid soda. Sugary drinks are infamous for gas production (at both ends!). When gas moves up from your digestive tract, it often carries stomach acid which causes heartburn.
- Stay away from sugar. Foods that contain sugar work exactly like soda and cause gas. This includes foods that act like sugar such as breads, grains, and starchy vegetables.
- Supplement with a probiotic. A probiotic can promote a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn will help pump the brakes on heartburn.
- Don’t skip the salt. Salt helps keep bad bacteria in check by producing strong stomach acid which slows heartburn.
If you want to banish heartburn forever, then follow my advice and strengthen your body’s natural support mechanisms.
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. Did you know PPIs not only harm your health, they can also make symptoms WORSE? Find out more ways to put an end to the pain and kick those meds to the curb right here.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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