Television commercials for heartburn medication commonly show an older person experiencing the burning sensation in the upper abdomen or lower chest. All of that could change, however, as the results of a new (2007) study become better known.

That study, done by Medco Health Solutions Inc., analyzed U.S. prescription data for the years between 2002 and 2006.The results suggest that the incidence of serious heartburn in children is rising. During the past year alone, more than two million of the United States’ children (ages 18 and under) received prescriptions for digestive or gastrointestinal complaints.

Asked about the study’s meaning, Robert Epstein, Medco’s chief medical officer said “It’s a signal that something’s going on that we need to keep an eye on.”

Acid-reducing drugs such as Prevacid were found to be the most commonly prescribed medicines for children’s heartburn.

Returning to our thought about the television commercials for heartburn medication, consider these.

Starring Your Four-year Old

Suppose the next commercial for Prevacid that you saw on TV starred your own 4-year old child. Would you be astonished? Most of us would. Yet the study showed that about 3 percent of infants and children up to age four are using prescription drugs for heartburn. Two percent of children between five and eleven years of age use heartburn drugs.

Starring Your Teen

Or suppose your teenager starred in a commercial for acid-reducing medications. Almost one million children between the ages of 12 and 18 used prescription medications for heartburn last year. So the stereotypical “Uncle Joe” suffering heartburn in a Chinese restaurant could easily be replaced by a teenager in a fast food restaurant.

What Lies Ahead

While many children have heartburn from time to time, they usually get over it without drug intervention. They outgrow it naturally. The tendency for over-eager parents and physicians to prescribe medication for heartburn may be regretted in days ahead. Long-term use of such drugs can lead to risks of infections such as pneumonia and bowel inflammation. Today’s heartburn may be exchanged for more serious future complaints.

Other Options for Heartburn Treatment

Heartburn should be treated first with other options. If the child is overweight, take steps to reduce the weight. This can often allay heartburn without medication. Check to be sure the child’s clothing is loose-fitting, especially at the waist. Make sure the child gets plenty of exercise.

Using non-drug solutions may make your child much healthier in the future.

CAUTION: The above information is for educational purposes only. The writer is not a professional healthcare provider. If your child has been diagnosed with heartburn, discuss this study with your physician.

The millions who suffer heartburn have one thing in common – they seek Heartburn Relief.

Heartburn relief is more important to them than the cause of the heartburn. At least, it is until they get it. Then they begin asking the questions: Did I eat too fast or too much? Did I eat spicy, fatty food? Maybe I should have loosened my waistband. Some will go on to identify the trigger, while others will be happy just to have relief.

Heartburn Relief is easy to find. Grocery stores and pharmacies offer many possibilities. There are calcium tablets and other chewables. You can find over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription drugs. All promise Heartburn Relief – and some keep the promise.

Heartburn Relief Through Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes Heartburn Relief can be found through changing certain things in your life. Medication may be needed while making the changes, but permanent Heartburn Relief can follow the establishment of new habits.

1. Smoking: If you smoke tobacco in any form, stop smoking. This includes pipes and cigars as well as cigarettes. Smoking counteracts other efforts at Heartburn Relief.

2. Weight: Extra weight, especially at the waist and below, can put pressure on the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If you are serious about Heartburn Relief, exercise and diet as necessary to reach and maintain a healthy weight for your age and body build.

3. Clothing: For some, Heartburn Relief is as simple as wearing looser clothing. Waistbands and belts, especially, should not be too tight. You can be fashionable without stressing your body with tight clothes.

4. Bedtime Snack: Many people get Heartburn Relief by cutting out bedtime snacks. Reflux of acid is less likely to recur if you have not eaten within two hours of bedtime.

5. Trigger Foods: There is some question as to whether spicy and fatty foods always cause heartburn. They may in some people and not in others. Experiment. Keep a food list, noting when you have heartburn and the food eaten just prior to it. Personal Heartburn Relief may come from sacrificing certain foods.

6. Stress: Many people find that stress management is a means of obtaining Heartburn Relief. Learning how to respond appropriately to stress may ease the muscular tension that produces heartburn. For tips on stress management, visit the Stress Management Blog by clicking here.

While there is no one Heartburn Relief that fits all, making one or more lifestyle changes such as those above may be the answer you need.

CAUTION: The author is not a licensed medical professional. The information given here is for educational purposes only. Please discuss your heartburn symptoms and Heartburn Relief methods with your doctor.

Heartburn is a mystery to both patients and their physicians.
Nobody knows what really causes it. Researchers have learned that “for some reason” the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not function properly, allowing the stomach’s contents to flow back into the esophagus. They don’t know, however, why the LES fails to fulfill its duty. What researchers and doctors do know is that heartburn can be a serious matter.

Danger

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 60 million plus people in the United States endure a heartburn episode about once a month. Those who suffer heartburn every day number more than 15 million. Some of these heartburn sufferers are in danger of developing a more serious problem.

* GERD: A percentage of those who suffer heartburn will develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD Symptoms include that familiar burning chest pain that most recognize as heartburn. They also include difficulty swallowing; excessive throat clearing that is not simply a nervous reaction; and regurgitation of bitter or sour liquid.

* Esophageal Strictures: When the tube leading to the stomach narrows or closes, and remains that way long-term, it is referred to as an esophageal stricture. It is thought that persistent heartburn can produce this serious condition, which may require surgery.

* Barrett’s Esophagus: This precancerous condition can be another dangerous outcome of persistent, serious heartburn. In rare cases, people with persistent heartburn will continue further from Barrett’s esophagus and develop true cancer of the esophagus.

More information about the potential dangers of heartburn is available from the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Preventative Steps

There are steps you can take to fight heartburn before it progresses to a serious state. Here are several heartburn preventative steps to try.

* Avoid clothing that fits tightly, especially around the waist.

* Eat smaller meals, increasing the number of meals if necessary.

* In the evening, do not eat for three to four hours before sleeping.

* Quit smoking, as tobacco smoke can trigger heartburn.

* Reach, and maintain a healthy weight for your body type and height.

* Resist the temptation to lie down, or bend at the waist after meals. Either can cause stomach juices to flow back into your esophagus.

* Steer clear of lifting heavy things that might put strain on muscles around the waist.

* Test your reaction to possible heartburn food triggers such as caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, peppermint, spicy foods, and tomato sauces.

If you experience heartburn more than twice a week, talk to your physician about it. The above information is for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as profession medical advice.