The long-term use of omeprazole has been connected to an increased risk of developing stomach cancer that ranges from two to eight times that of the average population, according to a 2017 article about the connection between heartburn medications and disease on WebMD.com.

What is omeprazole? It is the active ingredient in common over-the-counter treatments for acid reflux and is known by the following brand names:

• Prilosec, Prilosec OTC
• Yosprala
• Prevacid, Prevacid IV, Prevacid 24-Hour
• Dexilent, Dexilent Solutab
• Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle
• Protonix
• Nexium, Nexium IV, Nexium 24 HR
• Vimovo
• Zegerid, Zegerid OTC

The lead researcher from the study referred to in the WebMD article–Dr. Wai Keung Leung—is a professor of gastroenterology at the University of Hong Kong.

He claims that medical professionals should exhibit extreme caution when prescribing daily extended use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) or reflux medications of this drug class. The risk identified in the study seemed to be in direct proportion to the frequency and long-term use of omeprazole products.

Are There Other Drugs I Can Take?

As indicated by Healthline, an alternate class of over-the-counter medications used to treat acid reflux symptoms are known as H2 blockers. Common brand names in this category are:

• Axid
• Pepcid, Pepcid AC
• Tagamet, Tagamet HB
• Zantac

These drugs are also available by prescription and are used to treat frequent heartburn but also as treatment and prophylaxis for peptic ulcers and inflammation of the stomach. While the long-term use of omeprazole products may set a patient up with just one condition ‘ripe’ for the development of stomach cancer, H2 blockers appear to be safer to use by far.

What Else Can I Do To Minimize My Risk of Getting Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer, as indicated by WebMD, is third in line for top global killer diseases. While a relationship between PPI’s has been established, a direct connection has not been. There is a lack of clarity about the significance of the common H. Pylori infection. While many whose bacterial infections in the study were cleared up with antibiotics and who were maintained for two years afterward on PPIs still got stomach cancer, many did not.

This information should point the patient in the direction of making sure they speak with their physician about H. pylori screening and treatment if they experience frequent heartburn.

Other lifestyle changes to manage heartburn recommended by New York University Langone Health include eating six small meals rather than three larger meals throughout the day, keep your head elevated while you sleep by using an additional pillow or two, and avoid indulging in trigger foods as part of your diet.

Trigger foods are those that are high in caffeine, acids, oils, and spice. Examples include coffee—particularly on an empty stomach, tomato-based products like spaghetti and pizza, fast deep-fried foods like hamburgers and French fries, and ethnic foods where hot condiments are used like Indian or Mexican dishes.

Sometimes individuals react to foods that are generally atypical for acid reflux, so its important to keep an individual dietary record to note when and after which foods symptoms arise. Losing weight—particularly in the stomach region where extra fatty tissue can put pressure on the internal structures of the abdominal organs, stomach, and esophagus is also an excellent preventative choice, according to New York University Langone Health.