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Acid suppressing medications might increase asthma risk in children |
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Written by Bryan Scribner
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Thursday, 27 March 2008 |
The use of heartburn medications during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of asthma development in children.
On the Enzymes Work blog, a story on the approval of Nexium for children outlined some of the harmful side effects of such drugs, including nutrient deficiency and intestinal infection. With long-term use, the drugs have even been associated with stomach cancer.
Now, a mid-March story from WebMD Medical News says prescription acid blockers taken during pregnancy increase the likelihood by 51% that a child will suffer from asthma symptoms.
H2 blockers such as Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac, as well as proton pump inhibitors, including Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, were looked at in the study. Symptoms of severe heartburn affect more than half of pregnant women, according to WebMD.
In the story, a doctor tells WebMD that the suppression of acid in the gastrointestinal tract might alter the immune system’s function to protect against asthma.
Acid blockers and antacids provide only temporary relief for digestive disorders. Digestive enzyme supplements, on the other hand, work naturally to improve digestion, helping relieve indigestion, heartburn, reflux and other gastrointestinal problems.
In addition, nutritional enzyme supplements can improve nutrient absorption and increase energy for immune function. Enzyme products in the WellZymes™ line that aid digestion include WellZymes™ Digestive Health, Digestive Chewables and Gastric Ease.™
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