Best and Worst Foods for Acid Reflux?

You may be familiar with acid reflux, but if you’ve never heard of it before, you might know it by another name: heartburn. Although acid reflux and heartburn are often used synonymously, heartburn is actually a symptom of acid reflux. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus. It occurs when the valve that keeps stomach acid from flowing up into your esophagus stops working correctly.3 This occurrence can cause discomfort, such as a burning sensation in your chest or neck, hence its common nickname “heartburn.” Experiencing acid reflux can happen after eating acidic foods or lying down too quickly after a big meal. Overeating and eating fried, fatty foods are common heartburn triggers , amongst others. If you have acid reflux occasionally, it’s probably not a reason for concern, but experiencing it more than two times a week can be a sign that you should talk to your doctor.

What Triggers Acid Reflux?

Certain habits can affect acid reflux like eating spicy foods or foods with caffeine and chocolate, which may be heartburn triggers. Eating too much or lying down too quickly may increase the chances of acid reflux as well. But acid reflux triggers go beyond food. Smoking or taking certain medications can make your more prone to acid reflux, as can hormonal changes during pregnancy. Another factor that may trigger acid reflux is stress. Stress itself does not cause acid production, but it may worsen the pain symptoms you experience. In one study, people who experienced anxiety or stress reported higher levels of pain from acid reflux.4 Taking steps to manage your stress by engaging in activities like meditation and exercise might be a good way to help relieve heartburn symptoms.

Can Anxiety Cause Acid Reflux?

As discussed above, stress and anxiety share some overlap, as far as symptoms go. Stressful situations may worsen your heartburn pain, and depending on how your body reacts to stress, they can also trigger anxiety. While more research needs to be done on the topic, some studies report a connection between acid reflux symptoms and anxiety.5 If a person suffers from stress or anxiety, they may also experience symptoms of acid reflux. Keep in mind that this does not mean anxiety necessarily directly causes acid reflux. Just like stress, anxiety may make you more sensitive to heartburn pain, making symptoms harder to manage.6 In addition, frequent acid reflux itself can be a stressful experience, which can trigger anxiety or anxious feelings in certain individuals. In a way, it can be a continuous circle, with anxiety affecting acid reflux and vice versa.

How to Relieve Acid Reflux and Anxiety

Having acid reflux doesn’t mean you have anxiety. Likewise, anxiety won’t necessarily cause or affect heartburn symptoms. However, if you’re noticing symptoms of acid reflux, anxiety, or both, the first thing to do is to talk to your doctor. There are many ways to manage heartburn symptoms. You can also focus on eliminating trigger foods, or try an OTC treatment like Nexium 24 HR for heartburn relief for frequent heartburn that occurs more than two times a week. For intermittent heartburn, you can turn to products like TUMS or Gaviscon. If you have concerns about anxiety, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor. They may be able to offer advice on how to reduce anxiety and manage any associated symptoms. In the meantime, just focus on taking care yourself. Try to alleviate stress by exercising, meditating, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough rest each night. And do things that make you happy—that is always the most important part. Would you like to learn more about acid reflux and heartburn? Learn about common heartburn myths with Nexium 24 HR.

What is Nexium

Nexium 24HR is the #1 selling frequent heartburn brand. Nexium 24HR stops acid at the source and provides the most powerful OTC acid control available. The active ingredient in Nexium 24HR is 20mg of esomeprazole.¹ Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), which means that it decreases the amount of acid that the stomach produces.

What Is the Difference Between Nexium 24HR and Prilosec OTC?

The difference between Nexium 24HR and Prilosec OTC is the active ingredient—Nexium 24HR contains esomeprazole, Prilosec OTC contains omeprazole. Like esomeprazole, omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and helps decrease stomach acid production.²

How to Use Nexium 24HR

Nexium 24HR is available in Capsules, ClearMinis, and Tablets. These products are formulated as delayed-release capsules and delayed-release tablets, which means they do not start releasing the drug until it reaches the intestines in order to prevent stomach acid from breaking it down.³ Nexium 24HR Capsules, ClearMinis, and Tablets are meant to be swallowed by mouth. Take one Nexium 24HR capsule or tablet with a glass of water before eating each morning for 14 consecutive days. It should be taken as directed and should not be taken for longer than recommended.

Precautions

When taking Nexium 24HR, as when taking any drug, there are various precautions like drug interactions that you should be aware of. Do not use Nexium 24HR if you are allergic to esomeprazole.

Do not use Nexium 24HR and seek medical attention if you have:

Trouble or pain swallowing food; vomiting with blood; or bloody and/or black stools
Heartburn with light-headedness, sweating, or dizziness
Chest pain or shoulder pain with shortness of breath; sweating; pain spreading to arms, neck, or shoulders; or light-headedness
Frequent chest pain

These may be signs of a serious condition.

Talk to your doctor before taking Nexium 24HR if you have any of the following:

Heartburn for more than three months. This may be a sign of a more serious condition.
Frequent wheezing, particularly with heartburn
Unexplained weight loss
Nausea or vomiting
Stomach pain

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using Nexium 24HR Capsules if you are taking a prescription drug:

Acid reducers may interact with certain prescription drugs. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking Nexium 24HR. When visiting a doctor or a dentist, be sure to inform them that you’re taking esomeprazole because it can interfere with a variety of other drugs, affect underlying health conditions, and influence medical test results.⁴

Other Things to Keep in Mind When Taking Nexium 24HR

To get the best results from the esomeprazole in Nexium 24HR, it’s important to follow the instructions on the package on how and when to take it.

For optimum strength and effectiveness, store Nexium 24HR in the container that you received it in, making sure to keep the lid tight and the container out of reach of children. Nexium 24HR should be kept at room temperature. Keeping it in the bathroom is not recommended, as this can cause exposure to moisture and heat.

NEXIUM vs. Nexium 24HR

Both NEXIUM and Nexium 24HR contain the same active ingredient, esomeprazole, but there are differences in their indications and directions for use. Nexium 24HR, which contains 20mg of esomeprazole, is available over the counter. 20mg caplets of NEXIUM are only available via prescription, as are all other doses of NEXIUM. Nexium 24HR is indicated for adults (18 years or older) who are experiencing symptoms of frequent heartburn, or heartburn that occurs two or more times a week, while prescription NEXIUM is indicated to treat many acid-related conditions.

For more information about Nexium 24HR and its active ingredient, esomeprazole, check out our resources on heartburn causes and triggers, heartburn treatment comparisons, and more frequently asked questions.

Sources:

Dailymed.org Nexium 24HR esomeprazole magnesium tablet https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=61f67858-ba2f-449b-8b30-c15cdaf49222
Dailymed.org PRILOSEC OTC- omeprazole magnesium tablet https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=77ed80a2-a482-4838-ac55-4865b5c31d9f
Esomeprazole. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699054.html.
Esomeprazole (Oral Route) – Precautions. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/esomeprazole-oral-route/precautions/drg-20074322.

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What is Nexium

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Other Things to Keep in Mind When Taking Nexium 24HR