Heartburn, do you need a pill or a change of diet and more exercise? There are many reasons for heartburn, and all too often, a visit to the doctor means a pill which is usually a proton pump inhibitor (P.P.I.). These drugs are unfortunately now being linked to nutritional deficiencies, Dementia, bone fractures, joint pain, and even heart attacks. It is estimated 15 million of us are now taking these medications. Chronic heartburn can burn the esophagus, creating other complications as well. Decreased stomach acidity is normal as we age, however, taking medication to further lower the PH affects digestion and can cause bacterial overgrowth in the upper intestine (GERD). One simple solution has been apple cider vinegar, which is theorized to be PH sensitive and when it senses a lower PH, it closes and prevents reflux. Taking a P.P.I. is likely going to create many chronic problems as it reduces the ability to properly digest and regulate via PH. You can read more about some natural methods to relieve the problem here. Recently, the NY Times did its own research about the problem of using these medications. This is just one of the many examples of why treating the symptom, rather than understanding the problem and treating that is an expensive way to practice healthcare. Many naturopaths take the approach of understanding the mechanism of heartburn and addressing the other problems in the gut as well which could be a result of antibiotic use, eating the wrong foods or perhaps, food sensitivities that are developed or perhaps inherited. Check out the NY Times article here. Pop a Pill for Heartburn? Try Diet and Exercise Instead By JANE E. BRODYMARCH 20, 2017 Many Americans would rather take a drug than change their habits to control persistent ailment. Yet, every medication has side effects, some of which can be worse than the disease they are meant to treat. Drugs considered safe when first marketed can turn out to have hazards, both bothersome and severe, that become apparent only after millions of people take them for a long enough time. Such is the case with a popular class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, or P.P.I.s, now used by more than 15 million Americans and many more people worldwide to counter an increasingly common ailment: acid reflux, which many people refer to as heartburn or indigestion. Read more