Question

Sally comes to the medical setting stating she has heartburn on a daily basis. She states that she has also been constipated.

Answer 1

Answer:

Magnesium hydroxide  Mg(OH)₂ is the formula for the antacid. Commonly known as milk of magnesia.

This antacid should be taken at bed time or one hour after meal. Once a day.

The routine medication should have at-least one hour gap with the antacid.

If sally develops diarrhea then the antacid should be discontinued.

Lifestyle changes that could help Sally's bowel and gastric conditions are:

• High fiber diet.
• Increased Water intake.
• Regular exercise.
• Less spicy died.
• Taking meals at-least 3 hours before bed time.
• Wearing loose fitting comfortable clothes.

Explanation:

• following the symptoms it is assumable that Sally is suffering from GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) which has resulted in constipation.
• GERD is a condition when the stomach acid of a person moves into the esophagus due to incomplete closure of the lower esophageal sphincter .
• Reflux of the stomach acid results in heart burn.
• The best way to relieve this condition is to take an antacid having a bicarbonate, or hydroxide formula which will react with the stomach acid and neutralize it or a proton pump inhibitor which would check the production of stomach acids.
• In Sally's case GERD is accompanied with constipation so she needs a antacid as well as laxative which will ease the bowel movement.
• A proton pump inhibitor will not be a good choice because it might aggravate the constipation thus Milk of magnesia or any other antacid with magnesium hydroxide with a chief component should be prescribed.
• Magnesium hydroxide is a laxative that acts as a mild antacid.
• Milk of magnesia has been reported of having diarrhea as a side effect, so the medication should be discontinued if Sally suffers diarrhea after taking the medication.
• GERD is best treated with lifestyle changes that include high roughage in diet, water intake, and physical exercise. These prevent the built up of acid in stomach and maintain the intestinal peristalsis thus regularizing the bowel movement and relieving acid acccumulation.