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Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate (Nexium): Proton Pump Inhibitor

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Esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate (Nexium) is a proton pump inhibitor that is used to treat acid reflux which occurs when acid moves back into the esophagus from the stomach. When we swallow food, it goes through the esophagus into the stomach. There is a round muscle at the bottom of the esophagus known as the sphincter that works like a valve. It relaxes when we swallow in order for food to pass through to the stomach. Proton pumps then release acid to help digest the food. The valve is closed tightly by the diaphragm in order to prevent acid from flowing back into the esophagus. At certain times, a small amount of acid flows back into the esophagus in what is called reflux. This is not very dangerous, but might be very harmful if acid continually splashes back into the esophagus for many years. A good treatment for acid reflux is Nexium, which is a proton pump inhibitor that binds to the parietal cell of the stomach lining and prevents H+/K+ ATPase from making acid.
As we get older, it gets harder for the valve to close tightly due to a weakened diaphragm. So this allows acid and partially digested food to splash back into the esophagus. As such, continues occurrence of reflux would result to the gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastro for the gastric system, and esophageal for the esophagus.3 The hole can also increase in size leading to the formation of a hiatus.1 When this happens, part of the stomach bulges through the hole leading to the hiatal hernia which

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