Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Red Wine Can Protect Against Barrett's Esophagus

For those of you who enjoy a daily glass of red wine, a new study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and published in the March, 2009 Gastroenterology showed that drinking a single glass of red wine every day may lower the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus. But the study also found that you need to maintain a normal weight and eat eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily to reduce the Barrett's risk. Other studies done by Australian and Irish researchers concur. Drinking beer and/or liquor did not lower the risk; nor did the protective effect of the wine increase with higher consumption.

New Warning on Heartburn Drugs

Last month the FDA issued a warning for Wyeth's pill Reglan that has been shown to cause spasms and tics when used for long periods of time or at high doses. Reglan, generically known as metoclopramide works by speeding up the muscles used in digestion and relieving painful stomach acid reflux. Generic drugmakers are also required to display the warning. According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA drug center, 'The chronic use of metoclopramide therapy should be avoided in all but rare cases where the benefit is believed to outweigh the risk.'

Patients are also being cautioned about taking a combination of Plavix, a blood thinner used to reduce the risk of another heart attack and proton pump inhibitors, used to prevent gastric reflux. PPI's also help prevent gastric bleeding while taking Plavix. Dr. P. Michael Ho, a cardiologist at the Denver VA Medical Center and lead researcher of the current study believes that PPI's should not be prescribed prophylactically because there may be an interaction between the two drugs. The study was first published in the March 4, 2009, Journal of the American Medical Association. Other cardiologists including Dr. Grgg C. Fonarow, professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, agree and think the study shows that PPI's and Plavix used in combination should be limited to patients at risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, Dr. Fonarrow does believe that further studies in different populations are needed. The current study collected data on more than 8,000 patients discharged from 127 Veterans Affairs hospitals after suffering a heart attack or unstable angina.

The FDA has recently said that it is conducting a safety review regarding potential interaction of the two meds.

If you are taking any of the above mentioned meds, it may be prudent to check with your physician or health care professional to make sure that this treatment is right for you.

Medicare to Cover Testing for Sleep Apnea

American Medical News reported last month that The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Medicare will now cover the cost of testing for obstructive sleep apnea. 'The coverage decision establishes nationally consistent coverage and assures that beneficiaries who have sleep apnea can be appropriately diagnosed and referred for treatment.'

New Reflux Book Gives Helpful Advice for Treating Children with Reflux

The Reflux Book, A Parent's Guide to Gastroesophageal Reflux by Beth Pulsifer-Anderson

The book gives straight forward, thorough, non scary advice and teaches childcare and feeding skills for infants and children with reflux. It is available at www.refluxbook.com and on amazon.com. For a special $2 discount for MedSlant newsletter subscribers, please contact Beth at author@reflux.org or in the special instructions section on the order tell Beth that you are a MedSlant newsletter subscriber.

Beth has worked in the non-profit arena for medical, environmental and consumer groups. She had her first exposure to the world of reflux when her daughter was only twelve hours old and choked. Later, it became obvious that her son had significant issues with reflux as a baby but was not diagnosed until much later.

In 1992, Beth started a small support group as a way of getting help dealing with all the night waking, food refusal and constant crying. That small support group has thrived and seventeen years later Beth is still the Executive Director of the Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association (www.reflux.org). She is the author of two medical journals and a contributing author on another. Beth is also the content administrator for www.reflux.org and the editor of Reflux Digest.

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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