Taking over-the-counter antacids for acid reflux, heartburn or a grumpy gut? Hold up. While they might bring temporary relief, these pills are playing a treacherous game with your insides. Essentially, these chalky nuggets mask symptoms while potentially triggering their own set of problems.

Antacids are loaded with earth metals like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and aluminum, which neutralize stomach acid. But a heavy haul of them might induce constipation, diarrhea, or even disturbances in your heart rhythm thanks to a surplus of these elements in your body. The moral of the story: too much of anything is rarely good.

Stomach acid isn't the villain it's often cast as. It's crucial for digesting food and annihilating bacteria. But, too much of it can ignite heartburn and several discomforting symptoms.

Now here's a science lesson: it's all about pH or levels of acidity and alkalinity. The lower the number, the more acidic an environment is. We need to strike the right balance to keep things in check. Antacids, with their alkaline earth metals, step in to neutralize the acidic uproar in your stomach, providing momentary relief.

Potential damage to your kidneys is another nasty surprise that these antacids might throw at you if they're a regular feature in your medicine cabinet. The kidneys are responsible for filtering these bad boys out, but impaired kidneys may struggle to keep up, causing a dangerous buildup.

Moreover, chronic use of antacids like calcium carbonate can result in low magnesium levels, potentially sparking heart rhythm issues. High calcium levels could also contribute to plaque formation in the arteries. Therefore, chat with your doctor if you've made antacids your frequent companions.

It's also crucial to be watchful about the interactions between antacids and other drugs you might be taking. Don't gobble down other medications within 2 to 4 hours of taking an antacid to avoid altered absorption rates and increased side effects.

Experiencing occasional heartburn or indigestion is normal, and you can resort to antacids as an intermittent solution but depending on antacids more often than two or three times a week warrants a conversation with your healthcare provider. Focus on addressing the root cause and devising a safe and effective treatment plan instead of symptom management.