The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid, a digestive juice that breaks down food particles into their smallest forms to aid digestion; it also helps kill the bacteria that enters the gut and the food as the bacteria cannot survive in the gut acidic environment created by HCl inside our stomach. However, when there is too much hydrochloric acid in the stomach, this condition is called hyperacidity. This article gives you an overview of hyperacidity, including its causes and treatment.
Causes
Hyperacidity is something that happens when your stomach’s protective shields are overwhelmed and overpowered by excessive acid production under the influence of aggravating factors. Different people have different causes behind their acid troubles; occasionally, there is more than one factor at work. A fact-driven article by gethugg.com narrows the causes of hyperacidity down to 7 reasons:
- Diet – Having too many foods like coffee, chocolate, mint, alcohol and onions, may make you feel acidic.
- Irregular food timing – Excessive periods without food can lead to acid reflux, gastritis, and heartburn. Excessive amounts of digestive juices can erode the lining of the intestines and cause ulcers.
- Drugs – Multiple drugs like NSAIDs and nicotine are often responsible for hyperacidity.
- Slow intestinal movement – The longer the food stays in your stomach, the more acid your peptide cells produce.
- Stress – Stress can deplete the production of protective factors in your stomach, adding to the imbalance.
- Belly fat – Excessive fat around your waist can weaken the lower oesophageal sphincter, causing the acid to leak through.
- Posture – Sitting with a hunched back, especially after eating, can bend the stomach and prevent food from reaching the intestines.
Knowing the reason behind your acid troubles and how it affects your body is the first step to preventing acidity. The best way to get rid of acidity is to control the acid before it can escape the body’s shielding mechanisms, and the route to doing that is via lifestyle changes.
Treatment
If you have multiple bouts of heartburn and none of the home remedies or online tricks helps cure it, it is time to visit your doctor. Your doctor will prescribe you a course of medications and run some tests to make sure it is not a peptic ulcer. Drugs that are frequently implicated in acidity are:
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) – Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce acid production by blocking the enzyme in the stomach wall that produces acid.
- Histamine blockers (H2 blockers) – The active ingredient targets the receptors on the acid-producing cells, stopping specific chemical reactions and limiting acid production.
- Antacids – Antacids are basic formulations that react with the acid present in your stomach and neutralizes it.
I hope this article helps you in your journey to a heartburn free life.
