Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Where To Find Help For Acid Reflux

I know from your emails and phone calls that many of you are looking for non drug remedies for your reflux and other health issues. You are not alone. And, many physicians agree with your goals.

Science changes quickly and facts are constantly replaced by newer facts and newer science. You need to be prudent in order to keep up. Many of us remember the Soviet Union, 48 states, and Pluto being a planet. We used to find ways to incorporate eggs into meals because they were rich in protein ' eggs lost favor for years but are now back in the 'good for you' category. And the list continues.

Two experts, John Abramson, M.D., and Jay S. Cohen, M.D. give non drug suggestions and also explain the reasons for some of the drug pushes. Drug advertising is successful when it convinces us that there is a pharmaceutical solution for everything but often the solutions don't address or solve the problem. Both physicians suggest that prevention should be the first treatment and drugs the last. If drugs are necessary, they say to start with the lowest possible dose and increase it slowly.

Dr. Cohen, an Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, is a nationally recognized expert on medications and their side effects. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines and he is a respected speaker. A strong advocate for patients' rights, Dr. Cohen accepts no funding from the drug industry or government. Regarding medications, Dr. Cohen believes that the 'the best dose of any medication is the lowest that works'. He suggests, among other things, making sure you know your doctor, asking questions, being wary of free samples, and accessing the benefits and risks of all medicines. And, when possible, look for lifestyle changes before committing to drug therapy or invasive procedures.

Referencing heartburn and GERD, Dr. Cohen says the first thing you need to do is find out why you are having the problem.

For more information on Dr. Cohen and his ideas, visit his website, www.medicationsense.com.

Dr. Abramson is a Harvard Medical School clinical instructor, widely recognized for his research on the drug industry. He points out that although before 1980 most clinical research was publicly funded, now, 90% of clinical trials are commercially funded, and when a pharmaceutical company sponsors a study, the odds are five times greater that the findings will favor its product.

According to Dr. Abramson, about two-thirds of our health is determined by our lifestyle habits. Many patients prefer pills because they are easier than changing habits but good dietary and exercise habits can go a long way toward getting and staying healthy.

Kids, Teens and GERD

There is an excellent organization - the Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesphageal Reflux Association (PAGER Association), that provides information and support to parents of infants to teens worldwide with GERD. Their website is www.reflux.org. You can find information, talk to volunteers, communicate with other parents, and join PAGER. The Associate Director, Jan Gambino, M.Ed., also has a blog with helpful ideas and suggestions.

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Our newsletter will take a month off in August but you'll hear from us in September. Have a safe, fun, reflux-free summer.

Please keep the phone calls and emails coming to 1.800.346.1850 and customerservice@medslant.com. I love hearing from you.



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