There's One More Reason to Avoid Too Much Soda Pop!

ArdeasNest — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:07:36 -0500

My son turned 18 in November and about 3 months ago he began experiencing an odd shortness of breath. He said he didn't feel like he wasn't getting enough oxygen, but he felt like he just couldn't fill his lungs. It happened mostly in the evenings and didn't really seem to be activity related. He looked like a guppy out of water gulping air. He also complained of a feeling of something in his chest. He said it didn't feel like pressure but like a blockage of some sort. I am an RN and I realize heart problems in people his age are rare, but my husband had a triple bypass 3 months after his 40th birthday, I have a mitral valve prolapse, and my son had unexplained palpitations as a child for which they ran numerous test with no diagnosis. So, of course I freaked! He's my baby, after all. I took him to the doctor and they did more tests. His heart was fine. Luckily (though the doctor might not see it that way) the doctor had the same thing at 18. Turns out it is Gastresophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Seems the acid from his stomach is irritating the esophagus and causing swelling (the "blockage") and that in turn is stimulating the vagal nerve and causing asthma-like symptoms (the "inability to fill his lungs"). The main culprits: late-night snacks and soda pop! It got so bad, that my son had started using an inhaler. He has not had a sip of soda in 3 months. Prior to that, I would buy only one two liter a week. My husband and I don't drink it, so it was all for my son, but it was only one two liter. At 18, there is nothing stopping my son from buying his own soda if he wants. The fact that he doesn't is an indicator to me how bad he felt and how much damage that soda was doing. He takes a rather strong antacid now as well, but no longer needs the inhaler. Oh, and by the way, GERD is a cancer precursor, so aside from the pain and shortness of breath, there was that lurking in the shadows.

They Had Me Fooled

theducatedplate — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:22:18 -0500

I was giving them to my kids for a while because I thought they were so much better than sugar-laden juice, but one day I took a much closer look at the label and was horrified. It says all-natural all over the box -- just goes to show you that we all need to read the nutritional label. Thanks for your comments.

Nancy

http://www.theeducatedplate.com

omigod... Minute Maid

lifeobserver — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:55:19 -0500

People in Indonesia here are kind of awed by the TV ad of Minute Maid Pulpy Orange. Is the drink should be avoided as well (as in your post, you mentioned Minute Maid Water Falls)?

Thanks.

Diar Adhihafsari, www.gorgeousinspirations.com

BlogHer - nutrition for kids - Comments

There's One More Reason to Avoid Too Much Soda Pop!

They Had Me Fooled

omigod... Minute Maid