Heartburn Drug May Increase Risk of Heart Attack
Heartburn Drug May Increase Risk of Heart Attack – A new study from Stanford University shows a link between the common over-the-counter heartburn drug, Prilosec (omeprazole), and heart attack.
Heartburn, which is a burning pain in the chest after eating, is quite common among Americans, with almost 20 million using a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)— the most common type of heartburn drug every year. Heartburn is also referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux.
According to study author Nick Leeper, assistant vascular surgery and cardiovascular medicine professor at Stanford University, the increased risk of heart attack in those who use the heartburn drug is as much as 20%.
The study is based on data gathered from 3 million American adults, between 1994 and 2012, consisting of 1.8 million patients seen at Stanford and 1.1 million patients through Practice Fusion Inc., a web-based electronic health record system for clinicians. Researchers identified 70,000 and 227,000 adults diagnosed with heartburn. Researchers found that the PPI drugs reduce nitrous oxide levels in endothelial cells, and maintaining proper levels is critical for making sure blood vessels are dilated enough to prevent heart disease.
The study also suggests that anyone using blood thinners like clopidogrel, sold as Plavix, may be more vulnerable to heart attack with PPI use. Researchers also found that anyone using the heartburn drug are at a greater risk for heart attacks, regardless of their predisposition for heart disease or any other medication they might use.
The study results will be published in the Vascular Medicine journal in August this year.
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