What is acidity?
Every time we eat food, gastric juices, which mainly comprise of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, are secreted into the stomach. These juices provide an acidic environment (pH is around 1.3-3.5) in the stomach which aid in digestion and prevent unwanted microbial growth. However, sometimes, the body produces too much of this juice than what is required which causes the excess fluid to reflux into the food pipe or oesophagus. This backward flow of the gastric juices is called acidity or acid reflux. When this acid reflux happens more than twice a week it is termed as Gatro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Regular intake of a diet which triggers excess production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is the common cause of acid reflux. Other causes include excess body weight, unhealthy eating habits like skipping meals, overeating, alcohol and tobacco consumption. Lifestyle modifications like incorporating alkaline-based diet, losing weight, eating in moderation, limiting intake of alcohol, are among some of the simple ways of getting rid of acidity.
What is heartburn?
Heartburn refers to the discomfort or burning sensation in the lower chest region triggered due to acid reflux. It is symptom of Gatro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and is quite common during pregnancy, due to the extra pressure on the abdominal region. As the gastric juices come in contact with the cells lining the oesophagus, it starts irritating them by lowering the pH of the food pipe than what is required, and causes distress. The severity of
heartburn can vary from momentary relapses, which are quite common, to chronic episodes. Its important to treat the chronic ones as it may damage the oesophageal lining and can even be a leading cause of cancer. Heartburn is attributable to lifestyle factors like obesity, smoking and sedentary lifestyle. Apart from the burning feeling in the chest and throat areas, there can be rising pain which might extend up to the jaw. In order to reduce the heartburn episodes its important to minimize the production of gastric acids. Follow a healthy diet with more of alkaline foods like most of the fruits and vegetables, nuts, etc., avoid lying down immediately after meals, avoid triggering factors like caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods like meat, fish, orange juices, etc, and try to have an active life.
What is gas?
As one eats food quite fast or talks while eating, (s)he can swallow air along with it. Also, when the food gets digested, gases are produced in the system as a part of the process. In either of the case, gas usually passes out in form of burp or flatus. It is a general phenomenon but it can become embarrassing or uncomfortable at times, if it goes uncontrolled and/or accompanied with foul smell. In some aggravated situations, when there is excess gas
production and/or the gas isn’t able to pass out of the system fully it can cause severe abdominal discomfort. In order to get rid of gastric troubles, one needs to identify foods that may be causing excess gas formation. Such foods include vegetables like cucumber, cabbage, radish, fruits like apple, pulses like chhola, rajmah, carbonated beverages, etc. Apart from foods, sometimes, an underlying constipation or digestive tract infection can also be a cause of gas in the system. So, it needs to be identified and rectified. One should avoid heavy meals post late
evenings. In general, one should eat slowly and chew food properly so as to avoid swallowing of air with it.
What is regurgitation?
Regurgitation or sour burps (khatte Dakar) is a symptom of acidity. When there is excess acid reflux, bitter/sour acids might build-up in the throat or mouth area causing discomfort. It’s not a good feeling. And person experiencing this would always feel weird taste in his/her mouth. It can also occur when there is excess gas in the stomach, hydrogen sulphide in particular. This gas is produced as a result of breakdown of ingested food by the bacteria in the oral cavity and digestive system. Usually high protein foods and certain vegetables like broccoli and alcohol are found to release hydrogen sulphide. Apart from this, sour burp is quite a common phenomenon in pregnant ladies and when someone is under certain medications or is under stress. Dietary modifications play an important role in curbing this.
Avoid foods that cause excess gas production. Discontinue consumption of alcohol, carbonated beverages. Acupressure also helps in releasing the gases which can give immediate relief.
What is bloating?
Bloating is a condition where the belly feels distended or swollen, full and tight. Bloating isn’t restricted to the occasional feasting. It is quite commonly reported by women and men of all ages. It’s atypical symptom of Gatro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Bloating is often caused by excess gas production or due to disturbances in the movement of the muscles of the digestive system. Bloating can be accompanied with pain in the abdominal region
which can create great distress. Often bloating is misunderstood for water retention. But they are different entities and shouldn’t be dealt together. Treatment of bloating requires individualistic approach. Since excess acid reflux or gas production is the major cause of bloating one should address these issues by bringing in dietary modifications, like eating small frequent meals, which provides all nutrients in required amounts, drinking adequate water, limiting intake of alcohol and no carbonated beverages. Apart from these, certain lifestyle modifications like eating on time without long gaps between meals, eating slowly, quitting smoking, working out can go a long way.
Causes
How do you get acidity?
There are different mechanisms which can cause acidity in any individual. The stomach produces gastric juice, which is acidic in nature, to facilitate the process of digestion. There is a door-like muscular structure, known as the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), at the juncture of esophagus and stomach which prevents the back flow of food and gastric content into the esophagus (food pipe). In normal circumstances, this sphincter remains sturdy and closed. Acid reflux or acidity mainly happens with a disorder of the LES. The most common cause is the transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs). During TLESRs, the sturdiness or the tone of the LES is inhibited which causes the sphincter to open on its own, thereby allowing the gastric content to move up the food pipe. Apart from this, when a person is suffering from hiatal hernia, or there is delayed gastric emptying, impaired esophageal
clearance, excess gastric fluid production, or reduced lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, its highly possible to develop acidity. If not treated, it can develop severe complications like Barrett’s esophagus, erosive esophagitis and esophageal carcinoma.
Acidity related to food
The quality and quantity of food that we consume on a regular basis affect the way our system reacts. There are certain foods that may increase the production of gastric juices which can flow back all the way up into the food pipe if not regulated by the sturdy lower esophageal sphincter (LES). These include spicy foods, acidic foods like oranges, tomatoes, foods that have a high fat content, fried foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, etc. these foods are generally difficult to digest, which causes the stomach to produce more juices than usual that finds its way back up. Foods rich in fat have the ability to inhibit the tone of the LES. But how any particular food would react in a body is very individualistic. So people prone to acidity should keep a track and eat with alertness, chalking out the particular foods that cause them discomfort and then eliminate those from their diet.
Stress related acidity
When a body is experiencing stress of any form, hormonal imbalance can occur which can affect the production of the acids in the stomach. Under stress, body can become sensitive to even small amount of acid in the food pipe and thus can show symptoms like heartburn or regurgitation. This, when clubbed with stress-related overeating, can further aggravate the reflux.
Body weight and acidity
Like the many healthy issues, being overweight is also associated with acidity. Occasional heartburn is common to any individual, which can arise due to unhealthy lifestyle. But when a person is overweight or obese, then the extra fats around the abdominal region exert more pressure on the stomach which forces acid to move upward, which can be mostly chronic in nature. Hormones have also been found to play a role. Overweight/ obese women have a
higher levels of circulating estrogen levels, which have been linked with reflux disorder. Losing weight can help lessen acid reflux.
Acidity during pregnancy
As the size of the uterus increases, especially towards the end of the second trimester & beginning of the third, pressure on the stomach also increases. During pregnancy, hormonal changes also occurs which can allow the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscles to relax more regularly. This will cause frequent passage of gastric content into food pipe, causing burning sensation, especially when one lies down immediately after taking meals. This is the reason why heartburn is a common phenomenon during pregnancy. So its always prescribed to eat small meals, do not lie down immediately post meals and avoid foods that trigger symptoms when pregnant.
Solutions:
There are wide range of home remedies available to treat acidity. Some of them are discussed below:
Lifestyle:
Acidity is more of a lifestyle-borne problem than a disease in itself. High consumption of junk foods, alcohol, smoking, lack of physical activity, stress, disturbed sleep – all this and many other unhealthy lifestyle practices are all triggering factors for acidity and gastric discomfort.
Making minor dietary and lifestyle changes can prevent acidity to a great extent.