What is a stomach protector? Avoid adverse effects

In summerincreased temperatures, vacations and travel They make our lifestyle change. In this period it is very common to fall into excesses and nutritional imbalancesWe are included in our high -content food menu Fats, sugar or saltsometimes accompanied by consumption of alcohol.

These excesses can cause the appearance of Heavy digestionsthat, although they are not usually serious, they can be uncomfortable and interfere with everyday activities, for the symptoms with which he is, among them, among them sensation of heaviness, constipation, swelling or abdominal distensiongases, bruises or flatulence, reflux or stomach burning (pyosis), mild nausea and drowsiness or Fatigue after meals.

The General Council of Official Pharmaceutical Colleges of Spain remembers that they exist different drugs available in the community pharmacy without the need for recipe and that are indicated to Treat specific symptoms of heavy digestionsalways under pharmaceutical advice:

• Swelling, abdominal relaxation, ectuishing gases or flatulence. Siliconas in monotherapy can be used orally (such as syntheticone, which reduces the surface tension of gas bubbles in the digestive system, favoring its elimination), silicones in association (such as Dimeticone, with pancreatic enzymes that facilitate digestion at the intestinal level) or activated carbon, which acts absorbing gas particles at the intestinal level.
• Constipation: In general, drugs for constipation should be used when hygienic-dietary measures do not work. The drugs for constipation are known as laxatives and produce an increase in colonic traffic and/or softening of feces.
• Reflux or stomach burning. Depending on the specific symptomatology, there are four groups of drugs for dispensing under Pharmaceutical Council:

1. The alginateswhich neutralize gastric acids and form a gel barrier that floats in the stomach.
2. The antacidslike Almagato, which neutralize hydrochloric acid and inhibit active pepsin. In addition, they are adsorbent and neutralizing bile acids.
3. The H2 antagonistssuch as the famotidin, which reduces the volume of basal and stimulated gastric secretion.
4. The Protons pump inhibitors (IBP)such as omeprazole, which inhibit gastric acid secretion.

• Colic pain: Always under pharmaceutical council and for short periods of time, the use of butylecopolamine can be assessed, which reduces spasms in the gastrointestinal tract and, therefore, pain.

Caution with omeprazole and stomach protectors

Pharmacists warn of Incorrect use of the term “gastric protector” or “stomach protector” to refer to proton pump inhibitors (IBP), such as omeprazole. According to pharmacists, qualifying IBP as “stomach protectors” can generate confusion in the population and Promote inappropriate use to understand them wrongly as a general prevention of digestive problemswhen, in reality, IBP avoid acid hypersecretion.

This improper use can Increase the risk of adverse reactions. For example, although omeprazole is usually well tolerated and adverse reactions are generally mild, employment for prolonged periods of time (greater than 1 year) or high dose has been related to adverse reactions such as Reduction in vitamin B12 levelswhich can cause a type of anemia, of magnesiumwhich could lead to muscle weakness and cramps, and calciumwhich could lead to an osteoporosis and increased the risk of fractures.

Therefore, from the pharmacy you insist on Use it for your authorized indication and always under the advice of a health professional, at the slightest effective dose and during the shortest possible time. In addition, in prolonged periods, it is advisable to make a periodic revaluation of the need for treatment, at least once a year.

In the case of omeprazole without medical prescription, the treatment is 20 mg once a day preferably in the morning half an hour before breakfast, for the treatment of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, and with a Maximum duration of 14 days. And, if in seven days there is no improvement of the symptoms, the doctor would have to go.

Non -pharmacological measures

Apart from pharmacological treatment, from the General Council emphasizes that to treat heavy digestions, the first thing to do is adopt hygienic-dietary measures focused on prevention. Some of these are:

• Avoidas far as possible, Abundant mealsspicy and blunt sauces.
• Do more meals (4-5 a day), but with less quantityas well as establish a regular intake pattern.
• Increase fruits and vegetables (mainly seasonal) and fiber.
• Reduce ultraprocess consumption and foods rich in fats, sugars or additives.
• When cooking, opt for the ironavoiding fried and battered.
• Dedicate enough time to eat (between 20 and 45 minutes) and chew carefully The food.
• Maintain one correct hydrationespecially in summer. It is advisable to ingest 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day (8-10 glasses) and try to drink, even if you are not thirsty.
• Perform moderate physical exerciseextreme precautions by high temperature