DENVER ( KDVR ) — According to the National Library of Medicine , about 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn every month, and about 15 million people have it every day.
Experts said it’s not only happening in those who struggle with their weight or during pregnancy. The burning pain of acid reflux is incredibly common, with a third of the U.S. population experiencing heartburn every week.
Experts said many people rely on frequent heartburn medications to soothe their discomfort but, they may not realize just how unsafe many of these medications are.
Over-the-counter medications that are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are only intended for a 14-day course of treatment, up to three times per year.
Some proton pump inhibitors include Omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix) and Esomeprazole (Nexium).
The Journal of Neurology found a 33% higher risk of dementia for people who took PPIs for over four years.
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