In Spain, the use of drugs for almost any illness is quite widespread and it is common for each household to have a first aid kit containing commonly used drugs such as ibuprofen or omeprazole, which protect the stomach.
This last drug is indicated for, for example, the treatment of reflux esophagitis, heartburn, and acid regurgitation in gastroesophageal reflux disease, but many people take it to prevent something that may be harmful over time. Might be possible.
In 2017, the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) published a study prepared by University College London and the University of Hong Kong on the link between the use of tablets such as omeprazole and gastric cancer.
As a sample of the study, they used 63,000 patients who had recovered from Helicobacter pylori and observed that those who were treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were less likely to develop cancer than those who did not. was twice as high as those who took another treatment for reflux. ,
In addition, research showed that people who took omeprazole daily had a four times higher risk of colon cancer than those who took it weekly. At present, the scientific evidence on the association between this drug and gastric cancer is not fully proven.
Another study, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, argues that there is not enough evidence to confirm this link.
In any case, experts agree that there is an overconsumption of these types of drugs and recommend reducing their unnecessary consumption and that they should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor.
