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$Title{How Can Ulcer Medicine Help Asthma?}
$Subject{asthma medicines medication h2 antagonists reduce stomach acid
gastro esophageal reflux ger bronchioles respiratory system esophagus bronchi
bronchial spasm spasms Ill defined symptoms symptom lung lungs breath breathe
breathing wheezing coughing medicine medications gastroesophageal}
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Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How Can Ulcer Medicine Help Asthma?


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QUESTION:  I have suffered with asthma for much of my life, and have tried
different medicines over the years.  Recently I moved and consulted a new
physician in the town where I now live.  He was quite thorough, and in
addition to the medicines I was taking, prescribed another preparation.  When
I questioned my pharmacist about it he told me it was used for stomach ulcers.
Can you make any sense out of this medication mystery?

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ANSWER:  Your new medication probably belongs to a class of medications known
as "H2 antagonists" which are used to treat stomach ulcers because they reduce
the amount of acid produced by the stomach.  They are also useful in treating
a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a situation in which the
stomach contents, including the acid, flows backward into the esophagus.  Over
the past several years, there has been an increasing number of articles that
strongly suggest a relationship between GER and asthma.  Although the exact
mechanism of this relationship is still unclear, it is thought that the
presence of the concentrated acid in the esophagus triggers a spasm in the
bronchioles, producing the asthma symptoms.  In some cases it may be the cause
of the asthma, while in other patients it may just be an aggravating factor.
By using a medication that reduces the acid production, your doctor is hoping
that this mechanism can be stopped or reduced and that you will experience an
improvement in your asthma condition.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.