Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Myths about Digestive Disorders

Researchers have only recently begun to understand the many, often complex diseases that affect the digestive system. Accordingly, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives' tales, and rumors about the causes and treatments of digestive diseases with accurate, up-to-date information. But misunderstandings still exist, and while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous if it keeps a person from correctly preventing or treating an illness. Listed below are some common misconceptions (fallacies), about digestive diseases, followed by the facts as professionals understand them today.

Available en espagnolCosts for commonly prescribed drugs to treat heartburn, ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, vary from 79 cents a day to more than $8.00 a day. This report compares the effectiveness, safety and cost of five medicines in a class called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs.
Among these are the widely advertised medicines Nexium and Prevacid and the newly available nonprescription drug Prilosec OTC.