Published November 24, 2010
Is your heartburn putting you at risk for pneumonia?
If you’re like most Americans, you’re going to enjoy a wonderful meal with your family tomorrow. Unfortunately, that Thanksgiving meal could give you heartburn, indigestion, or gas. If this is the only time you suffer, it’s nothing to worry about. But if these problems are chronic, new research suggests you might be at a greater risk for pneumonia or some other serious infection.
The digestive problem isn’t what will put you at risk, though. It’s the drugs you take to treat the heartburn that will do it.
Antacids are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. And new research suggests they can cause a significant spike in your risk for gastrointestinal infections. One subclass, proton pump inhibitors, raises your risk of pneumonia. But they also raise your risk of serious gut infections, such as C. difficile. This tough organism is resistant to standard antibiotic therapy.
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