Pneumonia – it’s a common condition that’s often deadly, especially for seniors.
That’s why so many roll up their sleeves every year for a vaccine that supposedly prevents it.
And even though antibiotics can effectively treat this lung infection (as long as it’s the bacterial kind), tens of thousands of Americans still die from it every year. And if it lands you in the hospital, statistics say, it tops the list of ailments that can keep you from ever getting out alive.
The CDC offers a number of suggestions for how to prevent it, and — no shocker here! — the first six of them are vaccines! Not just for pneumonia itself, but for the flu (of course!), measles, and for good measure, whooping cough! All of those shots, it says, will help you stay fit, be healthy, and prevent pneumonia.
But if that’s all you’ve heard, you’re be missing out on one of the best ways to steer clear of this potentially deadly infection.
The best part is that by heeding this warning, you’ll not only be benefiting your lungs, but just about every other organ in your body!
So, if you’re having problems with acid reflux, don’t let all those commercials sell you on taking a pill for a quick fix. Because while they might stop stomach acid, they can also give the go-ahead to pathogens that can make your life much more miserable – and perhaps even put it in jeopardy.
The pneumonia-PPI connection
You see, there’s already something in each of our bodies that actually protects against infections (including pneumonia!), and that’s stomach acid.
The acid in your stomach actually forms a barrier that keeps “bad” bacteria out, but when you block the production of that acid with a PPI drug like Nexium, Prilosec, or Prevacid, it opens the door for all types of infections to take hold.
And now, researchers at the UK’s University of Exeter have found a clear link between taking PPIs and increasing your risk of developing pneumonia. And what’s even more frightening is that while this is the latest study to make such a connection, it’s far from the first.
In 2004, researchers from the University Medical Center in the Netherlands made a similar discovery over pneumonia and PPI drugs.
And in 2009, doctors from the Harvard School of Medicine discovered that around 33,000 deaths a year from “hospital-acquired pneumonia” are likely due to the routine practice of pumping hospital patients full of these acid-suppressors – regardless of whether they actually need them.
Then, only last year, another study done by scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine looked at whether those taking PPI drugs are at a greater risk of dying… from any cause. And even those seasoned professionals were “startled” by the results.
“However we sliced the data,” they said, “there was always a consistent relationship between PPI use and risk of death.”
It doesn’t get much more to the point than that, does it?
In fact, I’m not quite sure how those PPIs can be sold in such small packages, since listing all of the many side effects these drugs can trigger would require a billboard in Times Square!
The worst part of all of this is that many people quite innocently start up on one of these drugs, perhaps picking up a box while strolling through Target or Walmart, never expecting to still be taking them months or years later (despite the fact the FDA has only approved them for two-week periods no more than three times a year!).
But what they don’t know is that trying to get off of them once they start can often be next to impossible. I guess that’s why Larry the Cable guy is so stuck on Prilosec, saying he takes “one pill each morning.” He’s probably got no other choice!
What frequently happens is that they trigger a condition called “rebound acid secretion,” which has been described as the worst case of acid reflux ever.
When you block acid production with one of these meds, it creates an imbalance between the acid the body expects and what it’s actually getting. And once the drug is stopped, the body will start cranking out that acid like never before.
This is why you can’t just decide one day to stop cold turkey… but have to wean yourself off of them very slowly!
Of course, pneumonia is far from the only baggage these drugs bring along with them. They can also up your risk of a deadly kind of esophageal cancer and suffering a heart attack or stroke, lower your immune function, and open the gates to a bout with the deadly bacteria C. diff.
Yes, acid reflux can make your life miserable. But there are ways to control it that won’t kill you in the process!
For example:
- Try a “sleep wedge.” HSI panel member Dr. Glenn Rothfeld suggests using a wedge at night to keep stomach acid down where it belongs.
- Cut back on acidic drinks, such as coffee and some fruit juices, and carbonated beverages (which are bad for you in other ways as well).
- Start taking a high-quality probiotic daily.
- Sip on a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it.
- Have dinner several hours before bedtime and eat slowly. Give smaller portions a try.
And once you’ve managed to boot these risky drugs out of your life, never start up on them again!
“Commonly prescribed heartburn drug linked to pneumonia in older adults” University of Exter, April 24, 2018, ScienceDaily, sciencedaily.com
