Does Tums Cause Constipation
If you regularly suffer from heartburn, you may rely too heavily on Tums or other antacids to treat its symptoms.
“Can tums cause constipation?” Yes, if you take too many.
As such, your best option for managing your heartburn is to do everything you can to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Look after yourself by managing your health and diet.
Avoid eating too many carbs and raw onions and avoid drinking carbonated, citrus, and alcoholic drinks.
You may find that such small changes will help eliminate your heartburn without experiencing constipation and other tums antacid side effects.
Still, you can also try sleeping with your head slightly elevated.
Taking Antacids With Food Alcohol And Other Medicines
It’s best to take antacids with food or soon after eating because this is when you’re most likely to get indigestion or heartburn.
The effect of the medicine may also last longer if taken with food.
Antacids can affect how well other medicines work, so do not take other medicines within 2 to 4 hours of taking an antacid.
You can drink alcohol while taking antacids, but alcohol can irritate your stomach and make your symptoms worse.
Arm Pain: Heartburn Or Something Else
Heart attack survivors often recount their first symptom as a heartburn-like sensation. Many patients explicitly use the word heartburn when recounting their cardiac experience. Patients often realize that their heartburn is in fact not reflux-related but heart-related when:
- There is a pain radiating up the arm, specifically the left arm
- They have no history of acid reflux
- There is a burning sensation in the chest
- They have not eaten anything prior to the pain
- The pain doesnt go away with antacid
If your heartburn symptoms dont go away after taking an antacid, and are accompanied by arm pain and back pain, we suggest going to an emergency facility immediately to get medical help.
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What Are The Warnings And Precautions For Antacids
- Antacids when consumed in high doses and for long periods of time may cause acid rebound. Acid rebound is a condition in which the stomach produces even more acid after the consumption of foods and drinks. Fortunately, the effects of acid rebound are not clinically important.
- High-dose calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate when taken together can cause a condition called milk-alkali syndrome. Its symptoms include headache, nausea, irritability, and weakness,hypercalcemia , and reduced function of the kidneys.
- Extensive use of aluminum-containing antacids may cause hypophosphatemia , which in severe cases could lead to muscleweakness, anorexia, and osteomalacia .
- Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide should be used with caution in patients who have recently suffered massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- For patients with conditions such as high blood pressure, chronicheartfailure, renal failure and those who have sodium or salt-restricted diets, it is important to pay attention to the sodium level in sodium-based antacid preparations such as sodium bicarbonate
- Antacids should not be given to children under six years of age.
You May Not Need A Ppi
More than half of the people who take PPIs probably do not need them. Simple heartburn can be treated with antacids or other drugs, plus diet and lifestyle changes.
You may only have heartburn every now and thensuch as after a big, spicy meal. This may be uncomfortable, but it is not serious. You can usually get relief from an antacid, like Rolaids or Tums, or an H2 blocker, such as Pepcid AC or Zantac.
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What Can Trigger Heartburn
Heartburn can be triggered by many different things that are a part of your daily life. For many people, heartburn can be caused by certain eating and lifestyle habits. These habits can involve things like eating large portions of food, eating too close to bedtime or even having high stress levels.
Certain foods and drinks can also trigger heartburn for some people. Some foods and drinks that could trigger your heartburn can include:
- Onions.
- Caffeinated beverages.
- Carbonated beverages.
Your lifestyle habits can also play a part in why you might experience heartburn. These everyday factors often contribute to medical conditions that cause heartburn, like GERD or hiatal hernia. Some lifestyle habits that can trigger your heartburn include:
- Being overweight.
- Having a high stress level.
- Wearing tight clothes and belts.
Ways To Relieve Acid Reflux Without Medication
Image: Bigstock
A few lifestyle changes are worth trying before resorting to drugs for controlling gastroesophageal reflux.
If you are sounding a little hoarse and have a sore throat, you may be bracing for a cold or a bout of the flu. But if youve had these symptoms for a while, they might be caused not by a virus but by a valveyour lower esophageal sphincter. Thats the muscle that controls the passage between the esophagus and stomach, and when it doesnt close completely, stomach acid and food flow back into the esophagus. The medical term for this process is gastroesophageal reflux the backward flow of acid is called acid reflux.
Acid reflux can cause sore throats and hoarseness and may literally leave a bad taste in your mouth. When acid reflux produces chronic symptoms, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburnpain in the upper abdomen and chest that sometimes feel like youre having a heart attack.
Three conditionspoor clearance of food or acid from the esophagus, too much acid in the stomach, and delayed stomach emptyingcontribute to acid reflux, says Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of A Womans Guide to a Healthy Stomach: Taking Control of Your Digestive Health.
If youve been having repeated episodes of heartburnor any other symptoms of acid refluxyou might try the following:
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Otc Medicines For Heartburn
If your heartburn is infrequent or moderate, over-the-counter medicines, which include antacids such as Tums and Alka-Seltzer, H2 blockers such as Zantac and Pepcid, or proton pump inhibitors such as Prevacid and Nexium, are effective, says gastroenterologist John Dumot, DO, Director of the Digestive Health Institute at University Hospitals.
Antacids work by neutralizing the acid in your stomach, while H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors work by suppressing stomach acid production.
Over-the-counter medicines can work quickly and are safe for intermittent problems, along with lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding late-night eating or lying down after eating, Dr. Dumot says.
Dont Sleep On Your Right Side
Several studies show that sleeping on your right side may worsen reflux symptoms at night .
The reason is not entirely clear, but is possibly explained by anatomy.
The esophagus enters the right side of the stomach. As a result, the lower esophageal sphincter sits above the level of stomach acid when you sleep on your left side .
When you lay on your right side, stomach acid covers the lower esophageal sphincter. This increases the risk of acid leaking through it and causing reflux.
Obviously, this recommendation may not be practical, since most people change their position while they sleep.
Yet resting on your left side might make you more comfortable as you fall asleep.
Summary:
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You Have A Chronic Cough
Coughing can be caused by anything from a cold to asthma, so it can be difficult to determine whether or not its related to your heartburn. But, if you have a persistent cough that wont go away in addition to heartburn, the two may be making each other worse. Because untreated heartburn can damage the lining of your esophagus, it can often lead to heartburn. Likewise, untreated coughing can damage your esophagus leading to heartburn!
Surgery And Other Procedures For Gerd
If medicines dont seem to be working for you, your doctor may suggest surgery or endoscopic procedures. Your doctor can tell you whether one of these options is right for you:
-
. In this surgery, the surgeon wraps the top part of the stomach around the lower part of the esophagus. This creates a stronger barrier between the esophagus and stomach and helps prevent food and stomach acid from coming back up into the esophagus. The surgery is most often minimally invasive, done with a thin tube called a laparoscope. Your doctor makes a small cut in your stomach and uses small tools and a camera inserted into the laparoscope to perform the surgery.
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Endoscopic treatments. The goal of these treatments is to tighten the muscle in between the stomach and esophagus. During these treatments, your doctor lowers a thin tube called an endoscope into your mouth and down into your esophagus. Your doctor tightens the muscle by either using small stitches or heating small areas of the esophagus with radiofrequency energy. Endoscopic treatments may not be as widely available as surgery.
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How To Use Tums
Take this product by mouth as directed. For the chewable form, chew the medication well before swallowing. For the liquid form, shake the bottle well before each dose. Follow all directions on the product package. Do not take more than the maximum recommended dose stated on the product package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens. Do not take the maximum dose of the medication for more than 2 weeks unless directed by your doctor. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
Will Heartburn Go Away On Its Own
For many people, occasional heartburn is common. By watching what you eat and avoiding certain triggers , you may be able to prevent heartburn or manage it. If you find that you frequently experience heartburn and that it keeps getting worse, it could be a sign of a medical condition like GERD. In these cases, your heartburn will not go away without treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider so that you can develop a treatment plan.
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Antacids: How Do They Work
Antacids work based on a very simple principle of basic chemistry:
Acid + Alkali = Salt + Water
When you add an equal amount and strength of an acid substance to an alkali substance, the resulting chemical reaction turns the acid and alkali into salt and water. Both acids and alkalis are corrosive, but salt and water are, of course, harmless substances.
Antacids are alkaline substances. When you swallow or chew an antacid tablet, the alkali reacts with the stomach acid in your throat and turns into simple water and salt, thus relieving the burning pain that you feel when you have heartburn. Its really that simple!
If you occasionally get heartburn after a heavy night or a large meal, antacids are easy and effective way to neutralise your excess stomach acid and carry on with your day. If you regularly get heartburn however, you might want to visit your GP to make sure that there is not a more serious cause of the excess stomach acid.
Is It Safe To Drink Alcohol If You Take Tums
Its safe to drink alcohol if you take Tums. Theres no known interaction between calcium carbonate and alcohol.
With that said, keep in mind that alcohol can aggravate heartburn and other symptoms associated with indigestion. The reason for this is because alcoholic beverages can increase gastric acid secretions.
Alcohol also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. This is the muscle that blocks acid from flowing up from your stomach into your esophagus. Both of these factors can contribute to heartburn.
As a result, you might want to consider avoiding alcohol altogether if youve taken Tums because youre experiencing heartburn. Tums isnt intended to treat heartburn caused by alcohol consumption.
You can minimize alcohol-related heartburn by following the recommendations in the 2015-2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans .
The guidelines suggest limiting alcohol to a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Tums is generally safe to use for heartburn, with a low risk of side effects when taken as directed.
Still, side effects can sometimes occur. These include:
- abdominal pain or cramps
- upset stomach
- vomiting
Most of the time, these symptoms will go away once you stop taking Tums. Contact your doctor if your side effects are severe or continue even when you stop taking the medication.
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Get Help For Your Acid Reflux Today
Acid reflux is incredibly bothersome & inconvenient. While diet & lifestyle changes may help, your best option to treat acid reflux is to speak with a doctor.
Schedule a virtual visit with one of EMD’s reputable doctors & get a personalized treatment plan that works.
Stop living with acid reflux. Get help, today!
Antacid Treatment For Gerd
GERD is a chronic form of heartburn. It occurs when stomach acids leak back up into the esophagus. Over time, this causes potentially damaging inflammation or swelling.
While many people occasionally deal with the pain and irritation associated with heartburn, you might have GERD if these symptoms occur more than twice a week on a regular basis. The consequences of this digestive disease can be serious because it can damage the esophagus over time.
In most cases, GERD can be diagnosed and managed by your primary care doctor. When it is severe or unresponsive to first-line medication, you may need referral to a gastroenterologist, which is a type of doctor who specializes in digestive diseases. Treatment focuses on a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Antacids are usually the first line of defense because theyre readily available over the counter. They may also be more affordable than prescription medications. Let your doctor know if you are experiencing heartburn symptoms on a regular basis.
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How Do Antacids Make This Condition Worse
Malabsorption of carbohydrates leads to bacterial overgrowth, resulting in increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure which drives reflux. Low stomach acid, as caused by your antacids, can contribute to both bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.
One of the chief roles of stomach acid is to inhibit bacterial overgrowth. But when stomach acid is insufficient and the pH of the stomach rises above 5, bacteria begin to thrive. Stomach acid supports the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates by stimulating the release of pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine. If the pH of the stomach is too high , the pancreatic enzymes will not be secreted and the carbohydrates will not be broken down properly.
The fermentation of carbohydrates that havent been digested properly produces gas. The resulting gas increases IAP, which is the driving force behind Acid Reflux or GERD.
How Long Does It Take For Heartburn Treatment To Work
The answer depends on whether you’re about to try an over-the-counter antacid or a long-term prescription drug. Each heartburn treatment works differently, but in general:
- Antacids like Rolaids or Tums work instantly, but wear off quickly. Antacids work best if taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating.
- Histamine blockers take effect in about an hour, but must be taken twice a day for heartburn prevention.
Proton pump inhibitors are the most powerful drugs, but may not provide immediate relief because they act slowly. These drugs must be taken every day to be effective.
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Is Gerd Dangerous Or Life
GERD isnt life-threatening or dangerous in itself. But long-term GERD can lead to more serious health problems:
- Esophagitis: Esophagitis is the irritation and inflammation the stomach acid causes in the lining of the esophagus. Esophagitis can cause ulcers in your esophagus, heartburn, chest pain, bleeding and trouble swallowing.
- Barretts esophagus: Barretts esophagus is a condition that develops in some people who have long-term GERD. The damage acid reflux can cause over years can change the cells in the lining of the esophagus. Barretts esophagus is a risk factor for cancer of the esophagus.
- Esophageal cancer: Cancer that begins in the esophagus is divided into two major types. Adenocarcinoma usually develops in the lower part of the esophagus. This type can develop from Barretts esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the cells that line the esophagus. This cancer usually affects the upper and middle part of the esophagus.
- Strictures: Sometimes the damaged lining of the esophagus becomes scarred, causing narrowing of the esophagus. These strictures can interfere with eating and drinking by preventing food and liquid from reaching the stomach.
Why You Should Talk To A Doctor Or Pharmacist About Antacids
Though antacids are great at quickly relieving your heartburn symptoms, they usually don’t treat underlying conditions that could be causing them. So if you suffer from heartburn for more than two weeks, its important to talk to your doctor.
Like most medicine, antacids interact with other medications. When this happens, the effects of one or both drugs may change, or the risk of side effects may be greater.6 If you’re on a prescription drug, it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking an antacid.
References
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Antacids For Acid Reflux Relief
Acid reflux is a common illness with many sufferers across the world. The condition is caused by digestive acid moving from the stomach into the esophagus which can then cause a burning sensation in the throat and chest.
One of the main treatments for acid reflux are antacids. Antacids are a group of medications that work by neutralizing stomach acid. They normally come in tablet form but can also be administered as a liquid.
Antacids offer quick relief from the symptoms of acid reflux and have few side effects when taken at the suggested dosage.