Antacid Medications Linked to Heart Attacks
Proton pump inhibiters (PPI’s) are widely prescribed antacid medications and they work by poisoning the stomach’s proton pump. The end result of PPI use is to inhibit stomach acid secretion. Researchers report that an in-vitro and in-vivo study of PPI’s found they caused reduced nitric oxide levels (NO). NO is produced in the body to promote vasodilation. Any substance that blocks NO production may result in constriction of blood vessels which would increase the risk for heart disease.