Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a serious condition that is a result of persistent acid reflux that has caused ulcers (open wounds) in the digestive tract. It is often due to a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the band of...
Heartburn is one of the most common discomforts of pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters. While you've probably heard that it's best to avoid over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals during pregnancy, there are some...
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. Calcium is found in bones and teeth and is necessary for many bodily functions. According to Gicare.com, calcium carbonate is added to antacids in order to prevent heartburn and indigestion....
Calcium carbonate is chemically related to the much more common household chemical sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. While the latter helps to regulate the pH of the blood both as part of the body's natural pH-controlling system and when given...
Heartburn is a common condition during pregnancy, but antacids are not always the solution to controlling the acid buildup. Some antacids contain ingredients or chemicals that can cross the placenta and affect the baby, while others may cause...
Antacids reduce acidity in the stomach and treat digestive upset by raising the pH level of the stomach from a highly acidic 2 to between 3 and 4. This will neutralize up to 99 percent of the stomach's acid, which will allow people to gain...
Heartburn is the medical term for burning pain felt in the chest, a symptom caused by stomach acid and enzymes that flow backwards from the stomach in the esophagus. Heartburn is prevented and treated with antacids that neutralize the acid from...
Your stomach is the only organ of your digestive system that possesses the adaptations necessary to withstand prolonged exposure to gastric acid. A muscular ring at the junction of your stomach and esophagus normally prevents gastric acid from...
Most people have experienced that uncomfortable feeling when stomach acid enters your esophagus. They usually feel a burning sensation in the chest or throat that often occurs after overeating. If you don't regularly suffer from heartburn or acid...
Sodium bicarbonate, which you may know as baking soda, is an antacid that relieves heartburn and acid indigestion by neutralizing excess stomach acid. Sodium bicarbonate is available without a prescription in a variety of forms, such as tablet,...
Many people unwittingly take magnesium calcium carbonate. It is the compound found in many stomach acid relief medications. While useful for reducing digestive upsets, it can cause an unpleasant side effect --- constipation. With a little care,...
If you have a sensitive stomach or frequent stomach upset, known as dyspepsia, you may experience periods of nausea, indigestion and abdominal pain. Dyspepsia can have several different causes, which include ulcers, illness, medications and foods,...
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD as it is commonly referred to, develops when digestive stomach acids reflux and are sent back up the esophagus, where they cause a marked burning sensation. GERD is otherwise known as indigestion or...
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound that in its different forms creates limestone, marble and chalk. It is an alkaline chemical, meaning its pH is higher than pure water. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter...
Calcium is the most abundant nutrient in the body. It is critical for many functions in the body, such as muscle contraction, the contraction and dilation of blood vessels, secretion of hormones and enzymes and the transmission of nerve impulses....
Occasional heartburn characterized by a burning sensation in your chest is common and not a cause for alarm, according to MayoClinic.com. Chronic heartburn that disrupts daily activities may have a more serious underlying cause and should be...
When you go to purchase calcium supplements at the pharmacy or health food store, you have lots of options. One of the first things you may notice is that none of the calcium supplements list plain "calcium" in the ingredients -- they all contain...
Stomach acid works to break down food before it goes into the intestines. It also protects the body from some microorganisms that cause illness. Before you give your child an antacid because she is vomiting, figure out when it is safe to do so....
An estimated 25 million Americans will develop a peptic ulcer in their lifetimes, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. These sores on the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach or upper small intestine used to be treated by...
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin also known as cobalamin because it contains a mineral called cobalt. It's found in foods of animal based origin and your stomach needs to produce sufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid to make vitamin B-12...
Antacids are over-the-counter medications that often contain aluminum, magnesium, calcium or a combination of those substances. Some of the products available are Mylanta, Maalox, Milk of Magnesia, Alka-Seltzer, Tums and Rolaids. Antacids...
Probiotics and antacids can provide relief from gastrointestinal symptoms, albeit stemming from very different causes. Each of these supplements acts on naturally-occurring processes within the body to either enhance an effect or to neutralize its...
Vitamin B-12, a water-soluble vitamin found in most animal products, plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, metabolism, DNA synthesis and neurological function. Long-term antacid use can interfere with vitamin B-12 absorption,...
Antacids are over-the-counter medications used to relieve heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux. They can be formulated with magnesium, aluminum, calcium or a combination of magnesium and aluminum together. Antacids should only be used for...
Antacids reduce the stomach's production of gastric hydrochloric acid, helping to reduce painful symptoms of conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastritis. Hydrochloric acid plays an important role in the...
Calcium is the most commonly found mineral in your body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is critical to bone health and also plays a role in other functions of your body. Calcium supplements can be used to improve a diet...
Sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate are similar-sounding compounds that have some similar chemical properties. For instance, they're both common over-the-counter antacids that you can take to treat acid reflux. They also have significant...
It takes about three servings of dairy per day, plus calcium from other foods, to reach your recommended amount. Certain food components inhibit absorption of calcium, such as oxalates in spinach or phytates in beans. Adding a calcium supplement...
Some women have never experienced heartburn until they became pregnant, and others have had it for years before becoming pregnant. Regardless, pregnancy can increase the likelihood of heartburn for several reasons including hormones, extra weight...
