Stress and anxiety are among the main causes of acidity in Spain
Acidity has a negative effect on the quality of life of nine out of every ten sufferers
- 53% of Spanish doctors and 76. 2% of pharmacists signal acidity as the main gastroesophageal symptoms among Spanish people.
- Heartburn and rheumatic pain most affect the quality of life of the western population, including the Spanish.
- Almagate is the preferred active ingredient among doctors and pharmacists for the treatment of acidity.
“Changes in the neurotransmitters involved in stress and anxiety, such as acetylcholine or histamine, can modify different organic functions as a result of their effects on the central and peripheral nervous system and produce an increase in the secretion of gastric acid, as well as the reduction of the mucus defensive barrier of the gastric mucous that causes acidity”, explains Dr. Salvador Giménez, a Primary Care physician in the Paris Health Centre in Barcelona.
Acidity is currently the main gastroeosphogeal complaint among the Spanish population according to the physicians (53%) and pharmacists (76.20%) surveyed. Dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are also very common gastroesophageal disorders. These symptoms are more common in men than women, according to Dr. Ángel Lanas, head of the gastroenterology section at the Hospital Clinico in
Visits for gastroesophageal complaints are common in doctors’ surgeries as well as in pharmacies. According to Dr. Giménez “nine out of every ten people suffering from acidity affirm that this pathology has a negative effect on their quality of life as it stops them from sleeping, affects the quality of their work or prevents them from enjoying leisure activities.Also, one out of every two patients believes they cannot enjoy their favourite foods”.
Dr. Ángel Lanas says “acidity or heartburn along with rheumatic pain are the complaints that most affect the quality of life of the western population, including the Spanish”.
Increase among the younger population
Information collected from the survey reveals an increase in the consumption of antacids by younger members of the population. Doctors and pharmacists attribute this increase to the adopting of unhealthy lifestyles such as incorrect eating habits, alcohol consumption and smoking.
Antacids
Antacids neutralise acid secretion from the stomach.When the pH in the stomach is lower than 3 it becomes known as acidity.
According to doctors and pharmacists when acquiring and consuming an antacid what most concerns patients in
Pharmacists indicate that secondary factors that concern customers in pharmacies when they are given an antacid is the price (13.36%), that it is easy to administer (13.09%), the taste (12.28%) and that there are no unwanted effects (7.83%).
Meanwhile, doctors affirm that the secondary factors patients are interested in when starting treatment with antacids is their ease of administration (14.13%), that there are no unwanted effects (13.85%), the taste (6.57%) and the price(6.15%). Efficacy, posology and interaction with other medicines are also highlighted by both collectives.
Dr. Jiménez states that “it is important that antacids respect the normal pH levels (between 3 and 5) in order to avoid the rebound effect when acid neutralisation is followed by a greater secretion of acid to compensate the lack of acidity”. This situation can cause other more serious gastroesophageal symptoms.
Over 90% of the Spanish doctors and pharmacists surveyed still point to almagate (Almax®), on the market since 1982, as the market leader over all currently available drugs for the treatment of acidity.
In addition to the benefits of almagate indicated by doctors and pharmacists, Dr. Giménez adds the benefit of its wide spectrum of use as it can be used as a single treatment for sporadic episodes of heartburn and in the form of combined treatment with other drugs for more frequent acidity or in the presence of digestive disorders in which the main symptom is acidity.
Rational use of antacids
Around 30% of pharmacists and 50% of doctors believe that Spanish sufferers of acidity use antacids of their own accord, without consulting a specialist.
Dr. Lanas specifies that “at the moment people delay going to a specialist as they think acidity is a common complaint associated with certain kinds of food or unhealthy dietary habits”. In his opinion “patients only go to the doctor when the symptoms are very persistent or intense and in the meantime they combat the discomfort by consuming antacids”.
Survey sample
The survey was performed by Saludalia and was carried out on a sample of 500 primary care clinics and 500 pharmacies around
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