How do antacids such as Mylanta work?
Heartburn can be described as a burning sensation in the chest, often behind the breastbone. It is caused by a back up of acid from the stomach. The normal treatment for heartburn is antacids (such as Mylanta) which work basically by neutralising the acid in the stomach so that it cannot damage the tissue in the oesophagus. The positive side of antacids are that they work quickly, in as little as five minutes or so, however, the down side is that they only work for a short period of time, perhaps a few hours at most, so must be taken repeatedly. It is not advisable to take antacids repeatedly for extended periods of time as they can have an impact on the gut’s ability to absorb some nutrients and as the acid is somewhat “neutralised” the gastric juices have a reduced ability to kill off certain bacteria meaning that you may find yourself more prone to infection.
