Scenario Dara is a 38 year old single mother of three experiencing the stress of

Question

Scenario Dara is a 38 year old single mother of three experiencing the stress of raising adolescents working full time and taking classes part time. Recently she has been experiencing "heart burn" discomfort after eating, especially spicy foods. She has been self medicating eating Tums after every meal. She recently realized that she is taking 4 tablets to calm her stomach. Dara's mother is concerned she is developing an ulcer from all her stress. Dara visits her physician and is prescribed Prevacid. Shortly thereafter her symptoms began to subside. 1. Distinguish between the symptoms of ulcer and acid reflux. 2. What is the underlying physiological mechanism of acid reflux? 3. What is the underlying physiological mechanism of an ulcer? 4. Describe at least 2 ways acid reflux medicines work physiologically? 5. How do ulcer medicines work physiologically? 6. What is the physiological danger in eating too many antacids, like Tums, at once?

Explanation / Answer

1. In acid reflux , we can feel some food come back in our throat.;there is dry cough; trouble in swallowing;due to some foods increase in heart burns;symptoms become prominent when we lie down or bend.

Unlike acid refux, in ulcers we have blood in stool and vomoting; pain between breastbone and navel ; there is a burning sensation in gut.

2. The acid reflux is coming of acid in windpipe from stomach which causes burning sensation and unpleasant taste in throat.This happens when LES opens untimely. this happens due to stomach irregularities or due to hernia(sometimes).

3. In the lining of stomach if a sore is developed then is an ulcer.This sore becomes more effected in contact of acid.This occurs generally due to NSAIDs or due to a bacteria called helicobacter pylori.

4. First way is to reduce the acid formation.These medices incude H-2-receptor blockers which gives long relief and also decrease acid formation in the stomach for 12 hours.examples of this are cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine etc.

Another way can be prevent the acid production and heal the esophagus. These medicines are proton pump inhibitors which are stronger acid blockers and act for prolonged time and heal damaged esophageal tissue. Examples include lansoprazole, omeprazole etc.

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