Avoid prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors if possible

If you are taking proton pump inhibitors for a long time (PPIs, such as nexium, protonix, prilosec, prevacid) you should consider trying to get off them. There have been reports of bone mineral loss due to impaired calcium absorption among people on prolonged PPIs. Also, it has been shown that such people have approx. double the rate of pneumonia and clostridium difficile colitis (a potentially fagtal bowell infection). It turns out that stomach acid has a purpose - primarily, it would appear, to prevent infections. A minority of people on PPIs must be on them long term to avoid dangerous bleeds, but the remainder use them for symptomatic relief.