Tips to Knock Out Acidity

Acidity is the term derived from Acid. Acidity represents the collection of symptoms that occur due to excess production of Acid i.e, Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) inside the stomach. In general, the acid produced or formed in the stomach is neutralized by bicarbonate and prostaglandins secretion by a mucous lining. If this neutralization process due to any obstruction fails then it leads to Acidity.

Acidity is also termed as ‘Gastritis‘ scientifically.

Why is HCl secreted inside the stomach?

Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) helps with digestion.
It kills the bacteria that reaches your stomach along with your food, thereby preventing infections.
It helps in breaking down the constituents present in food, thereby promoting chemical digestion.
It activates the digestive enzymes by creating an acidic medium, which is required for their activation.

How is HCl secretion taking place inside the stomach?

I don’t want to explain this question in-depth because you have not reached the topic for it. However, knowing about acid secretion is much better. In general, parietal cells secrete hydrochloric acid inside the stomach, and this process occurs with an ion-exchange mechanism. The following video clearly explains the HCl production process.

HCl Secretion Process:

Step 1– From Blood: CO2 Enters from Blood Stream into Parietal Cells of Gastric Glands inside Stomach

Step 2— Inside Parietal Cells: CO2 gets reacted with H2O (water) in the presence of Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) to form Carbonic Acid (H2CO3). H2CO3 dissociates into H+ and HCO3- ions. In an exchange with Cl- ions, HCO3- ion returns into the bloodstream.

Step 3– Into Stomach Lumen: H+ ions manage to enter into the stomach lumen in an exchange with K+ ions. Cl- diffuses thru Parietal Cells and enters the Stomach Lumen. There in the stomach lumen, both H+ and Cl- ions combine to form HCl (Hydrochloric Acid).

Have a look at the above video for more clarity.

Causes:

The most common causes of acidity are as follows:

• Having food at irregular time / skipping food – This is one of the major cause for acidity. In most of the cases, we have our meals at irregular time and even sometimes we skip it. In such cases, HCl secreted inside the stomach causes damage to the inner lining of the stomach leading to gastritis or acidity.
• Having spicy and oily foods results in secretion of more acid inside the stomach, thereby causing acidity.
• Stress/Depression – More stress/depression may leads to over production of HCl inside the stomach that ultimately leads to gastritis or acidity. Over thinking should be optimized. Stress/depression causes release of more Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which acts on receptors of stomach and stimulates the production of acid (HCl).
• Pain Killers (NSAIDS, Analgesics) – Administering tablets for pain causes more secretion of HCl which ultimately leads to hyper-acidity.
• Caffeine/Nicotine/Tobacco – These are the substances which stimulates the production of neurotransmitters, indirectly resulting in hyper-secretion of HCl inside the stomach.
• Sleep – Improper sleep or sleepless nights causes hormonal imbalances in the body which results in acidity.
• Obesity – In some cases, obesity is also one of the cause for acidity. The pressure exerted on the stomach due to obese nature leads to more secretion of acid inside the stomach.
• Sedentary life – No proper body exercises and activities also result in acidity. At least walking is necessary after every meal for proper digestion.

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of acidity are as follows:

• Bloating – Feeling of fullness.
• Belching – Also known as Burping.
• Heartburn – Scientifically known as GERD (Gastro-esophagal Reflux Disease).
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting too.
• Regurgitation – A sour or bitter taste acid refluxes from stomach to mouth.
• Hiccups in few cases.
• Pain on the back side of the chest.
• Dysphagia – sensation of food being struck in throat.
• Sore throat in some cases.

I would like to suggest you the following tips so as to stay safe from acidity:

• Have your food daily at regular time, don’t skip meal.
• Don’t eat junk food, always try to have a light diet. Try to avoid spicy and oily foods.
• Stop overthinking. Keep your mind relax. Avoid stress as much as possible. Keep yourself busy in works as much as possible. Read books and novels to reduce your stress and depression. Always spend time more in what you love the most.
• Avoid pain killers as much as possible. If pain killer is must then use antacid tablet or syrup along with that. Try to avoid NSAID category pain killer. Tell your doctor about your acidity problem (gastritis) and ask him not to prescribe the pain killers which makes the acidity more worse.
• Reduce the intake of tea and coffee. Twice a day is more than enough. Please avoid drinking tea or coffee on empty stomach. Try to avoid smoking as far as possible.
• Have a sufficient sleep regularly. Sleep at right time. A minimum of 8 hours sleep is good for your health and mental stability.
• If you are obese then you should be diet conscious, and you should reduce your weight as much as possible.
• Everyone should follow yoga or body exercises in early morning and prior to sleep during the night for healthier life.
• Avoid drinking carbonated drinks and acidic juices too much. Avoid consuming too much chocolate too.
• Make a habit of buttermilk intake twice a day regularly or else whenever you had a spicy or junk food.

If you follow all these tips, then I will assure you that you will be free from acidity and it’s symptoms.

Thanks for reading.