Nexium for Easing Acid Reflux

Acid reflux disease affects a large number of people and its effects on your health can be devastating. Many people brush off the symptoms of heartburn, but acid reflux is a serious disease that can cause major problems. In addition to the heartburn symptom that is commonly attributed to acid reflux, if the condition is left untreated, long-term effects such as Barrett’s esophagus, esophagitis, and even esophageal cancer can be induced.

Acid reflux is caused when the corrosive acids that are found in your stomach are backed up into the esophagus. The caustic nature of stomach acid damages the esophagus, and causes the painful heartburn symptoms. While everyone experiences some heartburn from time to time, acid reflux is marked by a chronic condition of heartburn.

The problem occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter is not functioning properly. The lower esophageal sphincter is located in between the esophagus and the stomach, providing a means to close off the stomach so that the stomach’s acid does not enter the esophagus.

If the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter are weakened, they are unable to sufficiently close off the stomach, leading to the acids of the stomach being regurgitated into the esophagus. Eventually, the lining of the esophagus is worn away, often causing the sufferer to have difficulty swallowing.

One commonly prescribed medicine used to treat those with acid reflux is known as Nexium. The pill advertises that it provides 24-hour heartburn relief. How does it perform such a feat? The chemical compounds in Nexium work by shutting off some of the acid-producing cells in your stomach. While this is not a proper cure for the problem, it does help to ease the damage caused to the esophagus by acid reflux.

Clinical trials of Nexium showed that a full nine out of ten patients that had erosions of the esophagus due to acid reflux could be helped by the drug. The drug takes between 4 and 8 weeks before any significant healing of the esophagus occurs. The drug comes in two different dosages: 20 milligrams and 40 milligrams.

The 20-milligram version of Nexium is often prescribed to help those with a case of simple acid reflux, while the 40-milligram pill is usually reserved for those who have more advanced cases of acid reflux, such as erosive esophagitis.

Whenever deciding whether a new medication may be right for you, it is always important to know the drug’s side effects. The side effects that have been found to occur in those who take Nexium include headaches, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Nexium requires a prescription, so if you think that Nexium is right for you, contact your family doctor to see if it is the best idea for you. Also, be sure to notify your doctor of any other medications that you may be taking, as certain drugs may counter-act each other’s efficiency. If you would like to learn more about Nexium, you can visit the drug’s website at http://www.purplepill.com.

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