As Summer Heats up, Survey Reveals It’s Prime Time for Heartburn

Gastroenterologist Dr. Su Sachar Offers Tips to Avoid the ‘Burn’

CINCINNATI--()--As people are preparing to fire up their grills this month, just the thought of barbeques and cookouts can make mouths water. But unfortunately for the 50 million Americans who suffer from frequent heartburn1– or who experience symptoms two or more days a week – Summer is the time when they are most likely to feel heartburn’s effects.

Through a study conducted by Wakefield Research for P&G, which brings you Prilosec OTC®, it’s been revealed that summer is prime time heartburn season – nearly half (46%) of Americans with frequent heartburn identified BBQ season as the time of year when they are most likely to suffer from heartburn symptoms. And while the summer should be a time for kicking back, more than half (63%) of chronic heartburn sufferers admit that their condition frequently interferes with them having fun.

Additional findings from the survey of frequent heartburn sufferers include:

  • One in three have avoided the staple summer party, the BBQ, due to their heartburn symptoms
  • 74% say it would be worse to forget their heartburn medicine than their sun block when going on vacation this summer
  • 60% have had to adjust plans while on vacation due to heartburn symptoms
  • 75% say their heartburn has inconvenienced family and friends
  • 78% have been prevented from doing things they love due to frequent heartburn symptoms, including going to family parties, happy hours and sporting events

While these statistics show that frequent heartburn is putting a damper on summer celebrations, Dr. Su Sachar, gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says that sufferers do not have to accept frequent heartburn as “normal.”

“If you continually suffer from frequent heartburn, it is time to consult your doctor and devise a treatment plan,” Dr. Sachar advised. “For most of my patients experiencing frequent heartburn, I recommend eliminating the most common heartburn triggers such as coffee, alcohol, chocolate and spices.”

But avoiding your favorite things at the barbeque may not be the only way to avoid frequent heartburn.

“One way to treat frequent heartburn is to take a medication that can help block the acid that causes heartburn, so you don’t get it in the first place,” Dr. Sachar observed. “It’s possible that, while taking just one pill a day as directed, a 14-day course of Prilosec OTC can control, and in many cases, eliminate frequent heartburn symptoms. Prilosec OTC may take 1-4 days for full effect and should not be taken for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor. It is not intended for immediate relief.”

Dr. Sachar offers the following tips for those suffering from frequent heartburn to prevent symptoms:

  • Get educated. One of the best defenses is to arm yourself with information. With all the over-the-counter medications available, my patients are often overwhelmed and don’t know what is right for them. Many are often unaware that some medications are designed to block the acid that causes heartburn and some are designed to treat symptoms after they start. Additionally, people often fall prey to the common myth that experiencing symptoms daily is normal, without realizing there are proactive treatment methods. The more you know about frequent heartburn, the better you will be able to treat it.
  • Talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you. There are three OTC treatments widely used for frequent heartburn – proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treat the condition by shutting down many of the acid pumps in the stomach and stopping symptoms before they start, histamine2 (H2) blockers that provide relatively quick relief after an onset of symptoms or can be taken proactively to partially block acid, and antacids that offer immediate but temporary relief for existing heartburn. I recommend over-the-counter PPIs, like Prilosec OTC, to my clients because it’s possible with just one pill a day to block the acid and stop heartburn before it starts for a full 24 hours of zero heartburn. It’s possible while taking Prilosec OTC. Use as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn. Do not take for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor. Not for immediate relief.
  • Engage in low-impact exercise. While more than half of people surveyed do not think weight gain impacts frequent heartburn, maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of managing symptoms for many people. It is important to note that high-impact exercises like running or jogging can aggravate symptoms, so check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking relaxes the valve at the top of your stomach, allowing excess stomach acid to reflux into your esophagus.

For more information on how to best manage your frequent heartburn or to see if you qualify for a free sample, visit www.prilosecotc.com

About the Study

The Prilosec OTC Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,001 Americans, ages 18 and older, who experience heartburn episodes two or more days per week, between April 5th and April 24th, 2012, using an email invitation and an online survey.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of this variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About PRILOSEC OTC

PRILOSEC OTC® is the #1 Doctor recommended† and #1 Pharmacist recommended OTC acid reducer‡ for the treatment of frequent heartburn. PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 selling OTC heartburn medicine* on the market that can work for 24 hours with one pill a day by directly shutting down many acid pumps in your stomach when used as directed for 14 days for treating frequent heartburn. For more information about PRILOSEC OTC, visit www.prilosecotc.com. PRILOSEC OTC is available over-the-counter through an alliance between P&G and AstraZeneca.

† Wolters Kluwer: OTC Acid Reducer Category, through March 2012.

‡ Based on Pharmacy Times 2011 Survey.

* P&G calculation based in part on dollars sold reported by The Nielsen Company in the US market for the Stomach Remedies Category for the 12 month period ending the week of January 15, 2011.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves approximately 4.4 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, Ambi Pur®, SK-II®, and Vicks®. The P&G community includes operations in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

References

1. National Heartburn Alliance. The Burn Factor: A Survey of the Effects of Frequent Heartburn on Quality of Life. A National Look. Chicago, Ill: National Heartburn Alliance; 2003.

Contacts

MSLGROUP
Katie Burton, 646-500-7837
katie.burton@mslgroup.com

Release Summary

It’s been revealed that summer is prime time heartburn season, nearly half (46%) of Americans with frequent heartburn identified BBQ season as the time of year when they are most likely to suffer.

Contacts

MSLGROUP
Katie Burton, 646-500-7837
katie.burton@mslgroup.com