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The ABCs of PPIs and CVD

By Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. on

If you're post-menopausal, 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 (protein pump inhibitor) to quell the fire. Around 50 million folks in the U.S. take the meds, 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 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 with PPIs -- this time in post-menopausal women. Over 11 years, women ages 65-plus who were continuously taking PPIs were significantly more likely to develop CVD (cardiovascular disease) than those not taking the meds -- and the more PPI doses a woman took, the greater the risk.

Fortunately, there are alternative approaches, from taking antacids like Tums and acid-reducing histamine-2 blockers like Pepcid to lifestyle changes. You can 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" and sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com so you can live younger longer.

 

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).

(c)2025 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.


(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

 

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