What causes hyperacidity?
Hyperacidity is a medical condition with a level above acidity. In other words, when the acidity isn’t subsiding and excessive acid keeps on producing in the body, it is called hyperacidity. It can be triggered by numerous causes.
The common Stomach Acidity Causes could be any. For instance:
- Poor choice of Diet – When the person is used to eating less nutritious food and more junk meals, fatty, oily, and acidic foods then the risk of acidity remains high—also, the chance of acidity increases when alcohol, grapevine, or caffeinated beverages are consumed regularly.
- Improper lifestyle Habits – The individual living a stressful routine often has irregular meal times which is one of the major causes of hyperacidity. Their stomach produces more acid than usual.
- Pre-existing medical concerns – Some medical health issues like obesity, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), hiatal hernia, etc could trigger acidity and are often recognized as major causes of hyperacidity among adults.
- Medicines under use – You never know if the medicines you take are causing acidity. For instance, aspirin, NSAIDs, etc are just a couple of medications triggering acid reflux or worsening the same.
What are the symptoms of acidity?
As discussed, acidity is felt when the stomach is not able to process the food normally and backs up the excess acid into the food pipe or Esophagus (the organ connecting the mouth and stomach). The muscle ring namely the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) plays the key role of being a valve letting food enter the stomach but keeping it from going backwards (into the Esophagus). When the valve shows failure in functioning normally, your last meal in the stomach will possibly regurgitate into the Esophagus which leads to feelings of acidity.
Here are the symptoms you may experience during acid reflux:
This most common acid reflux symptom happens when excess stomach acid flows back into the Esophagus and leads to inflammation in the chest. Such symptoms can last for a few minutes to several hours.
While the excess stomach acid keeps rising, it can cause throat irritations and hoarseness of voice too.
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Troubles while swallowing:
The person finds it difficult to swallow food or liquid due to excess acid backing up in the stomach, thus giving the feeling of fullness. It mostly happens when bile and stomach acid rise and reverse towards the throat with a bitter taste, often with regurgitation.
Medically termed dyspepsia, indigestion could be the root cause of acidity in most cases. Individuals often experience upset stomachs due to some reasons which can also cause a burning sensation in the stomach’s upper-middle part.
In simple words, if you know those post-meals feelings when you bend down and feel pukish, it is regurgitation. You may feel like something is moving inside your stomach but isn’t getting discarded via farts or poop.
Getting those sour burps is also among the signs of acidity. The backing up of acid with food gives a sour taste in the mouth which is often experienced along regurgitation.
What are the complications involved with acidity?
You never know the health complications driven by acidity and how severe they can get. It is thus advised to avail treatment timely. Let us discuss the severe complications that come along with acid reflux:
- Inflammation of Esophagus
- Severe pain/bleeding/sores on the Esophagus or stomach lining
- Narrowing of the Esophagus further causes troubles in swallowing
- Changes in the lining structure of the Esophagus which could lead to Esophagus Cancer (rare)
Which medicine is used for treating acidity?
The commonly prescribed Acidity medicine belongs to any of these drug classes:
- Antacids – Idea for quick relief from heartburn/chest inflammation
- Prokinetics – Boosts emptying stomach and strengthens lower Esophageal sphincter
- H2-Blockers – Lowers production of stomach acid
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) – Effectively reduce stomach acid production alongside healing Esophagus
Some medicines for treating Acidity like - Famocid 40 | Razo | Pantoprazole IV
Your healthcare professional will carefully examine the symptoms and suggest the relevant medication for optimal relief.
Side Effects of Acidity
Acidity side effects mainly trigger the feeling of discomfort. Also, these side effects vary among individuals depending on the type of acidity medicine they are taking.
For instance, individuals taking Antacids often experience constipation, stomach upset, or diarrhoea. On the contrary, H2-blockers can cause confusion, dizziness, and headache. Prokinetics are mainly responsible for nausea, fatigue, or certain digestive issues. Lastly, PPIs often cause chronic symptoms like Vitamin B12 Deficiency, damage to kidneys, and increased risk of bone fractures.
How to prevent acidity?
As said, prevention is always better than cure, you can take necessary actions for preventing acid reflux so you don’t have to deal with any discomforting symptoms later.
Here are some general tips on preventing acidity that you can incorporate under medical guidance.
- Improve your eating habits – Don’t eat meals too full or have three major meals a day. Eat smaller portions 5 times a day at 2-hour intervals while chewing your food thoroughly for a better digestive process. Also, avoid lying down immediately after the meal.
- Make necessary dietary adjustments – It is important to avoid any heavy/oily/fatty/spicy meals alongside limiting alcohol and caffeine.
- Maintain a healthy weight – Obese individuals can leverage pressure on the stomach which causes acidity. So, try to maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage stress – Try lowering your stress levels as it is one of the acidity triggers.
Conclusion
Acidity is a common digestive health issue, mainly discovered among 30+ individuals. However, it is manageable so that the stomach discomfort subsides gradually. The right choice of medicines, informed lifestyle decisions, and timely medical aid alleviate symptoms of acid reflux effectively.
FAQs
Which description correctly characterizes the acidity or basicity of a solution?
The acidity or basicity of a solution is determined with a pH Scale. If the values are below 7, it indicates acidity while values above 7 indicate basicity.
Does lemon cause acidity in the stomach?
Lemon is a citric acid with alkalizing effects. However, some individuals find it relieving acid reflux, while others experience worsening symptoms.
What is the main reason for acidity?
The malfunctioning of the lower Esophageal Sphincter is the root cause of acidity which pushes stomach acid back into the Esophagus, further causing heartburn & acid reflux.
