Acidity or acid efflux refers to a sharp pain and burning sensation in the center of a person s chest. Often referred to as heartburn, this disorder affects millions of people across the world. Even though suffering from acidity once in a while is more or less normal, a frequent case of acid reflux may be indicative of a more severe underlying condition.

Here is a look at some of the common reasons behind your recurring acidity.

Lying down after a meal: A meal requires a bit of time to get digested. Before digestion, the acid is contained in the stomach using the diaphragm. However, if you lie down right after having a meal, the diaphragm may or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) may open up, causing the stomach acid to spill into the chest. This can alleviate acidity symptoms. Similarly, a particularly heavy meal can also cause acidity.
Obesity: People who are overweight or obese have a greater risk of suffering from acidity compared to those who maintain an ideal body weight. So, start exercising and losing the extra pounds if you have been suffering from acid reflux for quite a while now.
Certain foods: Citrus fruits and vegetables contain citric acid, which help in increasing the overall acidic level in the stomach. Other foods, which should be avoided and can be a cause for acidity include chocolates, garlic, mint, onions, oily and fatty foods. You do not have to stop having these foods completely, but you should try to avoid them as much as possible.
Certain beverages: Alcohol consumption can often lead to acidity. It is best to avoid regular alcohol consumption and even if you choose to have a peg or two, make sure it is only for a limited period of time. Regular or excessive consumption of other artificially sweetened drinks, carbonated drinks and even tea or coffee, can also lead to acid reflux syndrome. If you partake any of these drinks, try to reduce the amount and ingest as little as possible.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women undergo a plethora of changes in their bodies. Some are visible from the exterior, while the others happen inside the body. A range of hormonal changes occur at this point in time which can cause certain problems in the body. One of the major hormones linked to acid reflux during pregnancy is progesterone. This hormone is vital for the proper growth and development of the fetus, but the hormone also slows down the rate of digestion. 

5 Sure Shot Reasons Behind That Acidity 

Hyper acidity (Amlapitta) is also called Acid Dyspepsia, which is one of the most common problem. Hyperacidity is a condition in which stomach secretes excess amount of acid.

Hyperacidity is very closely associated to Amlapitta in Ayurveda which is caused by the imbalance of agni or the digestive fire leading to the vitiation of pitta dosha.

Causes of Hyperacidity:

Hurry ,  Worry , and  Curry  are the three main reasons for the disease.

Diet (Ahara)

Spicy fried junk food

Carbonated drinks

Excessive use of chilly, mustard, garam masala powder (spice mixture), garlic etc. in diet

Salty and sour foods like chips

Eating of stale, fermented foods (dosa, uttappa, idli, dhokla etc. bakery food items).

Excessive intake of fast food

Excessive intake of Oily foods, pickles

Excessive intake of tea/coffee.

Lesser intake of water

Irregular meal times

Skipping meals

Repeated food intake (before the digestion of the previously taken food)

Incompatible food like taking non-veg with milk, sour fruits with milk, pizza followed by milkshake

Eating too late at night

Regimens (Vihara)

Lack of rest

Fast moving lifestyle.

Insufficient sleep at night.

Sleeping immediately after meals.

Sleeping in daytime

Mental factors

Stressful lifestyle
Excessive anxiety

Anger

Other causes of acidity include:

Medications: Some anti-inflammatory drugs, when taken for a long period of time can develop chances of hyperacidity.

Drinking alcohol

Smoking

Pregnancy

Obesity

Fasting

All the above factors result in an excessive increase of  Pitta dosha  in the body and exhibits symptoms of amlapitta.

The condition of Amlapitta is explained with a simile just as milk is poured into curd pot immediately attains sourness and gets into an inspissated form. In the same way, repeatedly eaten food gets improperly burnt and causes acidity.

Signs and symptoms

Vomiting

Loss of proper taste of food

Loss of interest of food

Headache

Heart &chest burn (retrosternal burning)

Sour or bitter test in mouth and belching.

Nausea

Throat burn

Regurgitation of food or sour substance

Gaseous distention/ bloating of abdomen

Pain in abdomen

Chest pain

Foul smelling loose motions.

Burning sensation over feet, hands

Mouth ulcers

Fatigue (especially in legs)

Tiredness

Fainting

Ayurveda has explained 2 main types of amlapitta:

Urdhvag Amlapitta: Mainly characterized by vomiting due to upward movement of pitta 

Adhoga Amlapitta: Mainly characterized by loose motions due to downward movement of pitta.

Investigations

If there is chronic hyperacidity, following investigations are useful:

Gastroscopy (Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)

Barium Meal x-ray

Gastrin levels in blood

Serology + histology for H. Pylori

Stool routine examination

Complications 

If not treated at the proper time or if faulty diet, regimen and habits continued, it can complicate as

Gastric Ulcer
Chronic Gastritis
Duodenitis
Prevention

 Prevention is better than cure  it is better to avoid all the causative factors of acid-peptic disorders (amlapitta).

Avoid excessive salty, oily, sour and spicy foods

Avoid heavy and untimely food

Avoid smoking and alcohol intake

Avoid overcooked, stale and contaminated food

Avoid fried and junk food items

Do not skip meals

Avoid fast

Do not overeat

Avoid untimely and irregular food habit

Avoid foods containing excess amount of garlic, salt, oil, chilies etc. very often.

Avoid toor dal, horse gram, fenugreek

Avoid lying down immediately after food

Avoid, smoking, alcohol, tea, coffee and aspirin type drugs

Follow the meal times

Take Light food, Coconut water, articles having cooling properties

Take vegetables like white pumpkin, cucumber, leafy vegetables except Methi

Take Wheat, old rice, green gram

Fruits like gooseberry, dry grapes (black resins), black grapes, pomegranate, fig, dry fig, custard apple.

Take adequate amount of fluids like pomegranate juice, amla juice, kokam syrup.

Medicated water with ushir (wala) or coriander-cumin seeds or tulsi seeds (sabja) or laja (puffed rice). 

Take Warm water.

Take Moravla (jam made from amla), gulkand (jam made from rose petals) 

Take One teaspoonful of ghee with warm milk

Take adequate sleep

Exercise regularly

Avoid stress

Follow mental relaxation techniques like meditation, Yoga and Pranayama

Medical management

As the disease is of Pitta origin, all measures are undertaken to pacify pitta.

Some important drugs useful in Amlapitta

Shatavari, Yashtimadhu, Amalaki, Sunthi, Guduchi, Ushir, chandan shankhabhasma, suvarnamakshik bhasma, pravalpishti, sariva, bhunimb etc

Some important Ayurvedic Medicinal Preparations are helpful when taken under proper guidance

Kamdudha Rasa 

Sutashekhar Rasa 

Prawal Panchamrit 

Shankh vati

Bhoonimbadi kwath

Avipattikar Churna

Shatavarighrit etc

'Panchakarma procedures' like Vamana (induced vomiting) or Virechana (induced loose motions) whichever is needed as per the symptoms should be administered. In chronic cases, Asthapana basti (medicated enema) is indicated.

Hyperacidity And Ayurveda!

The human digestive system is a very complicated and sizeable component of the body. It starts right at the beginning of the mouth, ending at the rectum. Some of the major responsibilities of the digestive system include absorption of essential nutrients and elimination of wastes.

Not only do digestive problems have embarrassing and unwanted symptoms, serious, chronic diseases can be caused if the minor problems are not treated.

Some digestive problems are listed below:

GERD: This is a burning sensation that results from acids in the stomach being squirted into the oesophagus. A burning sensation is felt, right from the chest to the end of the throat. Frequent heartburns can lead to GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), symptoms of which include dry cough, sore throat, chest discomfort and difficulty in swallowing.
Bloating: This is caused due to the presence of excess gas in the colon, small intestines or the stomach.
Dyspepsia: This is an uncomfortable feeling or pain which occurs in the upper abdominal regions, mostly a result of excess food intake. It is commonly referred to as indigestion. Dyspepsia can be discomforting and if prolonged, medical assistance should be opted for.
Chronic Constipation: Persistent constipation (chronic) is a sign that there is a problem with the elimination of wastes. This usually happens when the colon is unable to move or pass stools. Other major causes of chronic constipation can be changes in your usual diet, various eating disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and excessive consumption of dairy products among others.
Food Intolerance: This occurs when the digestive system is unable to tolerate certain food items. This condition is different from food allergies as it only affects the digestive system. Some of the common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, gas and vomiting.
Possible Serious Conditions-

A gastroenterologist is a type of doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases involving the digestive system. If you continue to experience digestion problems, it s time to make an appointment.

More serious signs could mean an emergency medical problem. Those signs include:

bloody stools
continuous vomiting
severe abdominal cramps
sweating
sudden, unintentional weight loss
These symptoms could be an indication of an infection, gallstones, hepatitis, internal bleeding, or cancer.

Medications-

You may be able to overcome digestion problems with treatment and lifestyle changes. Certain diseases of the digestive system might be long-term, but medications can help alleviate symptoms.

Identifying specific digestion problems and talking with a gastroenterologist can go a long way in terms of helping your doctor give you a proper diagnosis. Remember, you don t have to put up with constant digestive issues.

Problems Related To Digestion!

The stomach produces strong hydrochloric acid which plays a major role in the digestive process. This acid is contained within the stomach by the closing of a valve in the lower oesophagus. A higher-than-normal concentration of the acid is quite common and it could be due to various reasons that cause acidity, some common ones being obesity, eating large meals, certain acidic foods like citrus fruits, alcohol, smoking, pregnancy and aerated beverages.

The symptoms of acidity include heartburn, a bloated feeling in the stomach, burping, hiccups, nausea and weight loss. An important thing to notice is that acidity is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying disease. Unless there are serious structural issues, most cases of acidity can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes. Some of the best, yet simple and effective ways to deal with acidity are listed below.

Habit of eating smaller, but frequent meals. Eating one large meal is one of the main causes of acidity. Eating smaller frequent meals gives the stomach time to digest the food and also avoid acidity.
Avoid eating close to bedtime. When you go to bed with a stomach full of food, you are sure to end up with acidity. A minimum of 3 hours should lapse between the last meal and the bedtime. This gives sufficient time for the stomach to clear the contents.
Sleep with the head of the bed slightly elevated. Raising the head of the bed ensures there is no regurgitation of food, thereby preventing acidity.
Daytime nappers with acidity issues can try to sleep in a recliner or on a chair to prevent acidity attacks.
Manage weight through weight loss measures including diet and exercise. Obesity is one of the main reasons for acidity, and managing weight can help control acidity.
Smoking is a major cause of acidity. The negative pressure created during smoking helps regurgitation of acid, causing heartburn. Quitting smoking can help relieve long-term acidity symptoms.
Alcohol is another substance that aggravates acidity, and reducing or quitting can help in relieving acidity.
Baking soda, aloe juice, banana, chewing gum, mustard, almonds, and chamomile are some natural remedies to relieve acidity.
Most people have certain foods which are the triggers for acidity. Identifying these and avoiding these can also be a good way to manage acidity.
Acidity is a major concern during pregnancy. The bloated feeling is worsened by the acidity and the developing baby.
Clothes which have tight belts or are tight around the waist can be another reason for acidity.
While acidity is a common issue, it also is something that can be easily managed. Try the above measures and see your heartburn reduce.

Acidity - 11 Ways You Can Deal With It!

Stomach produces gastric juices (acid and enzymes) for the digestion process. Acid reflux is a medical condition in which there is back flow of gastric juices/ acids from the stomach to esophagus. Too much reflex can cause the stomach acids to burn the esophagus and can result into serious complications. The esophageal sphincter lies at the junction where the stomach and the esophagus join; lower esophageal sphincter plays a most important role in acid reflux condition. This sphincter allows food to enter the stomach and it prevents the reflux of acidic stomach contents back into esophagus, as a result of malfunctioning of lower esophageal sphincter, condition like acid reflux develops.

Triggers of heart burn

Hiatal hernia
Pregnancy
Heavy meals
Certain medications
Alcohol
Chocolate
Spicy or fatty food
Peppermint
Carbonated drinks
Smoking
Exercise just after meal
Stress
Obesity
Lying just after meal
Acid Reflux Symptoms

Heart burn
Acid regurgitation
Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing
Dyspepsia
Stomach pain
Black stools
Sleep disturbance
Weight loss without any reason
Hoarseness or sorethroat
Chronic cough
Laryngitis
Asthmatic symptoms
Dental erosion
Recurrent aspiration
Otitis media
Non-cardiac chest pain
When it comes to the digestive system, heart burn and acidity are probably two of the most common medical complaints. These conditions may be often be considered synonymous. It is affected by the acid levels in the stomach. Heartburn refers to an irritation in the esophagus by this stomach acid. It is characterized by a burning sensation in the upper abdomen. You may also experience a bloating sensation in the stomach. An antacid can provide relief in cases of acidity but this relief is temporary and superficial. It does not address the root cause of acidity and hence does not reduce the frequency of heartburn attacks.

Homeopathy is a holistic form of medication that can be quite effective in the treatment of heartburn and acidity. This form of treatment does not address only the symptoms present but also looks into the overall physical, mental and emotional health of the person. In doing so, it addresses the root cause of the acidity and treats the problem as a whole. Unlike antacids and other allopathic medications, homeopathy does not follow a one size fits all approach. Though the symptoms may be similar, medication for each case must be customized to suit the patient s overall health. These are known as constitutional remedies.

According to homeopathy, heart burn and acidity is not a problem in itself but is a symptom of a larger problem. It may be indicating an allergy to a certain food, stress or overeating unhealthy food. Though homeopathy has negligible side effects, in case your heartburn is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, extreme pain or dehydration, you must seek advice from a homeopathic doctor and not try to treat yourself. Homeopathic medication can relieve the symptoms of acidity as well as strengthen your digestive system so as to reduce the chances of recurrent acidity attacks. If your acidity is triggered by an allergy, it can also help treat this allergy.

Homeopathic medication is derived from natural sources. These medications are usually mild and do not overtake the body s immune system to treat a condition but support and strengthen it. Some of the common homeopathic remedies used to treat heart burn include Nux Vomica, Arsenicum, Ipecacuanha, and Podophyllum. The best medication for you will depend on the intensity of your symptoms, the food you feel it has been triggered by and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. Along with knowing the right medication, it is also important for it to be consumed in the right dosage and frequency.

Homeopathic Treatment of Heartburn and Acidity Accompanied By Bloating!

Ayurvedic treatment for Hyperacidity

Acidity gives you tremendous discomfort. The stomach condition wherein acid levels of the gastric juices are much more than normal is known as hyperacidity. It causes uneasiness alongside symptoms like loss of appetite, heartburn, unexpected stomach pain, etc. According to Ayurveda, the main cause of this condition is the worsening of the Pitta Dosha (the fire element) in your body.

The reasons that worsen this dosha are:

- Having foods that don't match your constitution or which aren't supposed to be had like milk and salt or milk and fish
- Extremely spicy and sour beverages and foods
- White flour products
- Products made from white sugar
- Smoking
- Excessive intake of coffee and tea
- Alcohol
- Having food even though you may be suffering from indigestion
- Controlling the urge to urinate or pass stool
- Prolonged exposure to heat and the sun

What happens to your digestive power?

The exacerbated Pitta worsens your digestive fire, causing your food to be not properly digested as well as influence the production of ama (toxins). When ama builds up in your various digestive channels, it brings about the problem of hyperacidity. The treatment focuses on calming down the irritated Pitta Dosha. For this, certain herbs are used to get rid of the toxins that block these channels. This automatically improves your digestive fire, bringing about better digestion.

What changes you're required to make?

To keep this problem at bay, there are certain lifestyle changes that you may have to make such as

- To curb the consumption of acidic foods like garlic, onions, ginger, vinegar, and tomatoes
- Avoid having curd/yogurt at night
- Practice yoga and Pranayam like Bhujangasana, Vajrasana, Shitkari Pranayam and so on
- Avoid fermented as well as processed foods
- Avoid coffee, tea, alcoholic or carbonated beverages

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

15 Best Ayurvedic Remedies to Cure Hyperacidity | Acid Reflux

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