Acidity - Causes, Symptom, Treatment and Diagnosis

Acidity is a medical condition that is caused due to excess production of acid. This acid is produced by the glands of the stomach. Acidity causes signs such as ulcers in the stomach, gastric inflammation, heartburn, and dyspepsia.

It is usually caused due to several factors such as irregular eating patterns, lack of physical sports or activities, alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, fad diets, and poor eating habits. People are more prone to developing acidity in places where people consume more non-vegetarian, spicy and oily food.

A lot of medications such as NSAID (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can also make an individual more susceptible to developing gastric acidity. Acidity is characterised by a deep burning sensation after consuming a heavy meal. Indigestion and constipation are also common in people who have acidity.

It can be cured by Home Remedies or by consuming antacids and implementing healthy. A technique is known as endosperm also provides immense relief from acid reflux. Common signs of acidity include indigestion, nausea, sour taste in the mouth, constipation, restlessness and burning sensation in the stomach & throat.

Our stomach usually produces gastric acids which help in digestion. The corrosive effects of these acids are balanced by the production of prostaglandins and natural bicarbonate which are secreted in the mucous lining. This damages the stomach lining and causes acidity.

Other factors which cause acidity include:

• Consuming non-vegetarians and spicy foods.
• Excessive stress.
• Consuming too much alcohol.
• Smoking frequently
• Stomach disorders such as stomach tumors, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers.
• Medications such as NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

The difference between acidity and gas is:

• Acidity is the condition in which the body produces more than the required amount of acid for digestion. Acidity is usually accompanied by heartburn.
• While Gas is produced in the colon and its aids in digestion. An average person releases gas about 20 times a day either through rectum or mouth.

  However, when the excess gas is produced or trapped because of eating large meals or spicy food, it is released through a burp.

  It can mild to extreme and sometimes cause stomach pain if it is trapped or when the digestive system is not running smoothly.

• Heartburn: A burning pain or discomfort that may moves from the stomach to the abdomen, chest or even up to the throat.
• Regurgitation: A bitter or sour tasting acid will back into the throat or mouth that eventually makes sores in the spots.
• Stomach bloating, Hematemesis, bloody or black tarry stool, frequent burps, difficulty in swallowing, continuous hiccups, nausea, vomiting, feeling fullness always, chronic sore throat, persistent dry cough, restlessness, indigestion and unexpected weight loss.

One can follow a number of methods to prevent acidity and they are quite simple to follow:

• Avoid foods causing reflux: Do not more spicy foods, coffee, carbonated beverages, acidic and fatty foods
• Split your meal: Do not stick to 3 times regular meal. Split it to 5 smaller portions so that pressure and reflux can be avoided
• Don’t lie down after eating: Take at least 2 hours to reach your bed after eating, because the food will be back flown into the esophagus.
• Try to eliminate acidity triggering foods for some weeks, examine and reintroduce
• Lose weight: Excessive fat pressures the abdomen region, thus pushing gastric juice into esophagus. Try to reduce weight if you are overweight
• Avoid certain medicines: Some OTC medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol may induce acidity and other prescription medicines such as Anticholinergics, Dopamine-like drugs, Theophylline, Sedatives, Calcium channel blockers and beta-blocker do develop acidity.
• Try to wear loose clothes around the waist and stomach region as it could reduce the tension around the areas.

Acidity is diagnosed with various methods. Some of these are listed below:

• pH monitoring: It checks out the acid level in the esophagus. A device is inserted into the esophagus by the doctor; it is left there for 2 days to measure the amount of acid in the esophagus.
• Barium swallow: It helps to trace out the narrowed esophagus and ulcers. A solution has to be followed and then an X-Ray will be taken.
• Endoscopy: A long, flexible lighted tube with a tiny camera at the bottom is inserted through the mouth and with the help of the camera esophagus, stomach issues are checked out. It is done with the help of sedation or anesthesia.

Acidity can be cured by consuming antacids that contain aluminum, calcium or magnesium. Many times, H2 receptor blockers (histamine blocking agents) like nizatidine, famotidine, ranitidine, and cimetidine are used. Proton pump inhibitors are also prescribed by the doctor if you have severe acidity. Acidity can also be treated by Home Remedies such as consuming bananas, cold milk, aniseeds, cumin, cardamom, cloves, mint leaves, and ginger.

You can also prevent acidity by avoiding spicy foods or pickles during meals, eating more vegetables and fruits, not consuming non-vegetarian food, avoiding medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) & steroids and reducing stress.

Sometimes acidity can also be caused by consuming food just before sleeping. This provokes the stomach enzymes to flow back to your esophagus and cause acid reflux. This can be extremely detrimental to health.

Some of the natural ways to reduce the acidity are as follows:

• Almonds: It neutralises the stomach juice, relieves the pain and prevents acidity entirely. Munch almonds when you are in a situation of not taking your meals so that it avoids excessive acid secretion. Take 4 almonds after eating.
• Banana and Apple: Banana contains antacids naturally that fight against acidity and intake of a few slices of apple before bedtime helps in relieving heartburn or reflux.
• Coconut water: While drinking coconut water, the body’s pH acidic level turns alkaline and it produces mucus in the stomach. Mucous prevents the stomach from the severe effects of excessive acid production. This fibre-rich water supports digestion and prevents the remittance of acidity.
• Enough sleep: Go for at least 7 hours continuous sleep.

Also Read: Home remedies for acidity

Though acid reflux is common in all, do visit a gastroenterologist if the symptom is recurrent. This potential condition will not disappear on its own. Untreated acid reflux or GERD will lead to esophageal inflammation, ulcers and cancer too. Immediately consult a gastroenterologist if you feel

• Persistent symptoms for more than two weeks
• Decreased appetite
• Heartburn with nausea and vomiting
• Unable to swallow
• Chronic hoarseness and wheezing
• Nighttime symptoms that affect sleep quality

During your visit, the doctor will examine, esophagus, stomach, duodenum to determine the cause and will provide you the appropriate treatment.

The food that helps reduce acidity are:

1. Vegetables.
2. Ginger.
3. Oatmeal.
4. Egg whites.
5. Non citrus fruits such as melons, bananas, apples, and pears, help reduce acid triggers and symptoms.
6. Seafood and Lean meat such as turkey, fish, chicken.
7. Healthy fat such as walnuts, sesame oil, avocados, sunflower oil, flaxseed, and olive oil. This help reduces the saturated fat and replaces them with healthier unsaturated fats.

Acidity or acidosis leads to the imbalance of pH in the body, it usually happens when the kidney and lungs are unable to remove excess acid in the body. This thus then leads to acidity.

Milk may help buffer the acid in the stomach and absorb the excessive acid produced in the body. It can also help alleviate acidity indications like reflux or heartburn. However, milk should be taken pain and cold with no added sugar.

Warm water is great for flushing out toxins from the body and makes food breakdown easier. Additionally, water has a neutral pH which thus helps increase the pH in the stomach and reduce acidity.

Drinks that are good acidity are:

• Herbal tea
• Coconut water
• Low-fat or skim milk
• Fruit juice
• Plant-based milk
• Water
• Smoothies

Coffee does not help with acidity as it stimulates the excessive gastric acid production in the body which may rise up to the oesophagus. Coffee thus increases the acidity as well as heightens its symptoms. Along with coffee, it is advised to avoid caffeinated drinks while suffering from acidosis.

Curd is really good at controlling acidity, it is a natural antacid and a probiotic. Curd contains good bacteria that has a soothing effect on the stomach, helps acidity, and gives a boost to the immune system.

Acidity is of two types:

• Respiratory acidosis happens when there is extra CO2 in the body. It is caused by chronic airway conditions, like asthma, injury to the chest, obesity, sedative, overuse of alcohol, muscle weakness, deformed chest structure.
• Metabolic acidosis occurs when the kidney is unable to remove excess acid in the body and is too much lactic acid in the body.

Foods that are rich in acid are:

• Carbonated drinks
• Red meat
• Dairy products
• Citrus fruits
• Cashews
• Peanuts
• Legumes
• Walnuts