Good Lifestyle

A burp could sneak you after spoiling a sparkling soda or engage in your favorite fast food, which is to be expected. However, constant belching and stomach burns could be a sign of acid reflux. Fortunately, several types of over -the -counter medication (OTC) can suffocate it in the bud. But if you have them in your pharmacy cabinet, you may want to take stock because new research indicates that certain over-the-counter drugs can increase your risk of migraines.

In relation: Doctors warn that these over -the -counter antacids can endanger your heart .

Acid reflux drugs can increase the risk of migraine, claims a new study.

According to a new study published in the journal Clinical practice in neurology .

As the Cleveland Clinic explains, "your stomach content is supposed to travel only one way: down. When acid in the inside of your stomach go back - Going, above - in your esophagus and throat, this is called acid reflux. ""

Occasional acid reflux, although uncomfortable, can be treated at home with over -the -counter medicines, such as Prilosec or Tums. However, chronic acid reflux can trigger stomach burns, stomach ulcers and, in more advanced cases, gastroesophageal reflux or GERD.

It is estimated that 20% of Americans suffer from GERD.

"Given the wide use of acid reductive drugs and these potential implications with migraine, these results justify a more in -depth survey", author of the study Margaret Slavin , PhD, an associate professor at the University of Maryland at College Park, said in A press release .

Nearly 12,000 participants were involved in the study. Researchers evaluated their use of acid reduction drugs, then compared it to the frequency of headache And migraines in the last 90 days.

They examined various types of over-the-counter anti-acid drugs, including antacid supplements. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as omeprazole (Prilosec), Esomeprazole (Nexium) and Lansoprazole (prevacid), were observed, as are H2 blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and Famotidine (Pepcid).

In relation: Doctors warn that the popular med is "the most dangerous over -the -counter medication".

Proton pump inhibitors were linked to a higher risk of migraine.

According to the results, IPP users are 70% more likely to feel migraines than non-users.

During comparison analysis, migraine risk factors such as age, sex and consumption of caffeine and alcohol were adjusted to reflect specific results for each over -the -counter medication. Here's how the different reducing drugs stacked against each other.

• 25% of participants using PPIs said they had migraines or serious headaches against 19% that did not use PPI.
• 25% of participants taking H2 blockers declared serious headaches against 20% of non-users.
• 22% of people on antacid supplements had serious headaches against 20% of non-users.
• H2 blockers users are 40% more likely to suffer from headache or migraine.
• Antacid supplement users are 30% more likely to know headaches.

In relation: Doctors warn that common drugs can be linked to the risk of dementia .

So, should you stop taking acid reductive drugs?

Acid current drugs, such as Prilosec and Pepcid, are used by millions of Americans to treat stomach burns, and they are relatively safe.

However, like any medication, whether prescribed or available over the counter, you must familiarize yourself with its list of potential side effects. And, you should talk to your doctor to start any new medication, especially if you are already subject to serious headache.

"It is important to note that many people need drugs reducing acid to manage acid reflux or other conditions, and people with migraine or serious headaches that take these drugs or supplements should speak with their doctor to know if they should continue," said Slavin.

In addition, given that acid reflux and headache are common symptoms of various health ills, it is possible that the two are not linked, but rather a sign of another underlying problem.

Clifford Segil , Do, a neurologist at the Providence health center Saint John who was not involved in the study, stressed stress as a potential culprit for both.

"In my clinical practice, I see countless patients with increased stress of life causing disabling headaches, and many of these patients with life stress also causes disabling GERD," he said Medical news today .

"Patients with increased stress of life should also have more frequent headaches," he said. "I am not surprised to see the treatment group requiring the strongest decreasing family of decreasing drugs, the most frequent headaches as comorbidity."