You Catch Every Bug That’s Going Around A whopping 70 percent of your immune system resides in your gut. The thin, sticky mucus that lines your GI tract is made up of immune cells, immunoglobulins (antibodies that attack bugs), and intestinal bacteria, explains Alpert. If you’re constantly getting sick, there’s a good chance that this…
Popular heartburn pills known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be making some people more prone to bacterial infections by altering the types of bugs that grow in the gut, a U.K. study of twins suggests. These pills work by stopping cells in the stomach lining from producing too much acid, which can prevent ulcers…
That chronic cough may not be what it seems. Does the thought of a plate full of pasta drenched in tomato sauce sound delicious or make you wince? For those living with heartburn, door No. 2 is typically true. An antacid may be a quick fix, but for many folks, that burning chest pain is…
Every Thanksgiving, lots of people loosen their belts and reach for antacids to quell an overstuffed tummy. But for some, turkey day is just another day of severe or persistent heartburn, and that chronic digestive trouble may be a sign of a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an expert says. In GERD, the contents…
Many people with throat discomfort are surprised when they are told by their doctor that they have laryngeal pharyngeal reflux (LPR) or silent cough. Gastric acid can cause significant inflammation when it falls on the vocal cords. If this happens repeatedly, a person can be left with a number of bothersome throat problems. Examples include:…
Despite treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continue to have reflux symptoms