“We firmly believe that the pain, burning, and distress of acid reflux is not caused by a deficiency of Pepcid.”

Sure these meds will give you heartburn relief but can lead to more serious health problems down the road.

I often use the analogy where a guy drives his car down the road and suddenly the oil light comes on.  This causes him stress because he knows something is wrong with his car.  Sooner or later he pulls over and covers the light with duct tape.  No more light , no more stress.  The guy gets back in his car and drives off happy…until a few more miles down the road his engine dies a painful death.  At that point the guy wishes that instead of covering up the oil light (symptom) he actually took the time and expense to fix the oil leak.

Antacids and Acid blockers cover up symptoms and do not fix the underlying cause. Worse, these medications will actually speed up the demise of your health. Sooner or later the underlying problem is going to cause the whole body to break down!

While I can’t think of a scenario where it would be beneficial to cover up your engine oil light, there may be a place for antacids.  In some cases when you have occasional heart burn, an over the counter antacid or my favorite; 1 tbs baking soda in 12 oz water, would be appropriate.  However, if you have reflux more than a few times per year you need to find out the underlying cause and get the problem fixed.

When there is tissue damage (ulcer) to the lining of your stomach or throat short term use of antacids (my favorite over the counter is Pepto-Bismo if other natural remedies are not available)may be necessary.

Unfortunately one of the most popular and newest class of acid blocking prescription medications, PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS (PPI), actually have been proven to cause heartburn. So you might want to think twice before starting one of these medications.

To fix a problem, you want to figure out what is causing it.

Over the past twenty years I have found that there are several  underlying causes in any given case of acid reflux. Medicine rarely addresses any of them.

Autonomic Nervous System

The stomach and the rest of your digestive tract are under the control of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system increases its influence when you are at rest and encourages good digestion, sphincter muscles to close, (the muscles that close the opening into and out of your stomach) stomach acid production, etc.

The sympathetic nervous system increases its influence when you are up and moving, stressed, or scared and relaxes sphincter muscles and decreases the amount stomach acid production.

Relaxed sphincter muscles allow acid to splash up into the throat causing heart burn (reflux) pain.

Spinal miss-alignments, food allergies, chronic low-grade infections, emotional stress, etc. will cause an increase tone of the sympathetic nervous system and can result in heart burn.

Low Stomach Acid (hypo-chlorohydria)

If you are unable to make enough stomach acid the cardiac sphincter will not tightly close and and the acid in your stomach will RELUX into your throat and burn it!  If you raise acid levels in your stomach, the pyloric sphincter will close tightly and there will not be any reflux.

One the basic materials that the stomach needs to make digestive acid is sea salt and water.  Many people are on salt restricted diets (almost never a good idea)and don’t have enough salt in their body to make proper stomach acid. Athletes and people using common table salt are also at risk.

The parietal cells in your stomach need water and salt to make hydrochloric acid. Often the parietal cells get damaged due to nutritional deficiencies and can’t make enough stomach acid to support proper stomach function. The Older you are the greater chance there is that your stomach no longer has the ability to make adequate amounts of acid.

Hiatal Hernia

In almost every case of Heart Burn the muscle that separates the lungs from the gut (the diaphragm)is not able to tighten sufficiently around the esophagus (the tube that connects the stomach to the mouth)and will allow the stomach to push up into the chest cavity.  This is called a hiatal hernia and will cause heart burn and is almost never addressed in the medical treatment of reflux.

Hiatal hernia can be corrected without surgery in almost every case.  It is important to fix for stomach function but will also be a major factor in anxiety attacks, many heart conditions, pressure in the chest, breathing problems, and more.

Heart Burn Program

Over the past 20 years Dr. Andreano has developed a safe, painless, non-drug treatment plan that will not only eliminate the pain and burning in your stomach for good, but restore normal function to your digestive system.

Don’t just accept the standard line.  Discover the underlying cause of your heartburn, get it fixed once and for all, and enjoy the benefits of good digestion.

“Proper stomach function is more important than eating good food, taking vitamins, or even exercise.  Partially digested food, even good food, stresses every part , poisoning the entire body”

The program will take you through several steps of neurological, nutritional, structural, biochemical, evaluations and corrections.  Each possible underlying factor of your heart burn will be covered.  Because the entire body is evaluated holistically, many health issues other than heart burn will be eliminated.  As you go through the program, pains will disappear, bloating will stop, food allergies will be identified, your immune system will strengthen, energy will increase, your memory will improve, and you will enjoy an overall greater level of health and well-being.

Many of my clients have already experienced the benefits of various aspects of the Heart Burn Program, but this is the first time we have offered all aspects of this program in one protocol directed particularly at heartburn, reflux, G.E.R.D. etc.

The program includes all in office testing and treatments needed to resolve your Heart Burn.  Nutritional products and lab testing are not included in the program.  In most cases the program can be completed in less than a month.

The Heart Burn Program is priced at $1997.00.  Financing is available through Care Credit.