If you're postmenopausal, you're two to three times more likely to develop GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) than you were before — and you're probably taking a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) to quell the fire.
Around 50 million people in the U.S. take those medications, even though there's concern that the risks of long-term use may outweigh the benefits.
We've known for a while that taking PPIs for months or years can reduce absorption of vitamin B12, calcium, and magnesium, and make you more vulnerable to infection from Clostridium difficile, leading to severe diarrhea.
Now a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society confirms previous indications that there's an increased risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women who take PPIs.
Over 11 years, women ages 65 and over who were continuously taking PPIs were significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those not taking the drugs — and the more doses a woman took, the greater the risk.
Fortunately, there are alternative approaches, from taking antacids such as Tums and acid-reducing histamine-2 blockers such as Pepcid to lifestyle changes. You can also try eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy and fatty foods, never eating within three hours of bedtime, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and raising the head of the bed when you sleep.
Probiotics may also help restore equilibrium to your digestion.
For more information on managing GERD and other digestive problems, check out Dr. Oz's book "Food Can Fix It."