Heartburn Drugs can cause Heart Disease

A new study has found that drugs that help people cope with acid reflux may cause cardiovascular disease.  This is the first time when, researchers have illustrated how proton pumps inhibitors, or PPIs, might cause cardiovascular problems. The researchers from Houston Methodist Hospital said that they have found PPIs caused the constriction of blood vessels in human tissue and mouse models. If taken regularly, PPIs could lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems over time, including hypertension and a weakened heart.

A large-scale study has been done by the scientists to determine whether PPIs are dangerous. John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., the study`s principal investigator said that the surprising effect that PPIs may impair vascular health needs further investigation. The work is consistent with previous reports that PPIs may increase the risk of a second heart attack in people that have been hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome. He also added that patients taking PPIs may wish to speak to their doctors about switching to another drug to protect their stomachs, if they are at risk for a heart attack. The study is published in the journal Circulation.


Read more Health News.