Gastric juice is one of the main components of the digestive system. Its main property depends on the level of increased or decreased acidity, or, in other words, the concentration of hydrochloric acid.
What is the disease?
There are other acids in the gastric juice, including lactic acid, but their content is too low. Acidity has the unit pH. With some disturbances in the functioning of the body, fluctuations of this value in one direction or another are possible. For example, an infectious process or functional disorders of the stomach lead to its increase. In this case, they speak of the presence of increased acidity.
A disease such as gastritis provokes increased production of hydrochloric acid. It also leads to increased stomach acid. It is not difficult to detect this deviation in the normal functioning of the digestive system. In most cases, this process is accompanied by heartburn and can be both short-term and chronic.
The cause of heartburn is explained as follows: excess hydrochloric acid, together with gastric juice, rises up the esophagus, which is dominated by an alkaline environment. The contact of different environments causes unpleasant sensations that are hard to miss.
Reasons
There are a number of factors that affect the production of a large amount of hydrochloric acid, which leads to an increase in pH and acidity:
- surgery on the gastrointestinal tract;
- stress;
- malnutrition;
- alcohol abuse;
- chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- long-term use of medications (antibiotics);
- infections;
- hormonal disruptions in the body.
Often, acidity increases with malnutrition, when eating fatty foods, food on the run, carbonated drinks, spices. Nicotine and alcohol, the use of medicines play a significant role in the increase in hydrochloric acid. The negative effect is on the walls of the stomach, which in turn leads to the fact that the acidity rises.
Gastrointestinal tract infections have a big impact on acidity. You can get infected even when sharing the same dishes with an infected person. Bacteria cause irritation of the walls of the stomach, which leads to an increase in the level of hydrochloric acid.
Gastritis plays a significant role in the diagnosis of hyperacidity, causing the production of hormones that are responsible for the amount of hydrochloric acid produced.
How the disease manifests
This ailment isimbalance of excessive production of hydrochloric acid and its elimination.
The disease is accompanied by symptoms such as:
- heartburn (the effect of stomach acid on the esophageal mucosa) after eating or lying down;
- unpleasant belching that tastes bitter and sour;
- constant heaviness in the stomach, i.e. a feeling of fullness, even if the meal took place in a small amount;
- bloating;
- pain in the intestinal area;
- possibility of gas formation;
- constipation or, conversely, diarrhea;
- loss of appetite due to persistent heartburn or pain after every meal;
- burning in throat;
- apathy, drowsiness, decreased performance, bad mood, irritability;
- in rare cases, nausea and vomiting occur;
- plaque of gray, yellow, white on the tongue.
A disease accompanied by high acidity is gastritis, the symptoms of which may be similar to those of erosion or stomach ulcers. For an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo certain types of procedures and pass a certain list of tests. After that, a diet and medication are prescribed.
Heartburn with high acidity
Causes of heartburn include:
- Constant stress and overexertion of the body. The nervous system can have a negative impact on the entire human body.
- Heredity.
- Endocrine diseases. Thyroid problems also negatively affect the digestive organs.
- Junk food. With frequent use of spicy, fatty foods, increased acidity appears.
- Fast food and smoked meats also provoke the development of the disease.
- In addition to junk food, hot food can provoke acidity.
- Using certain pills and other medicines. With prolonged use of a drug that affects the hormonal background, a high concentration of acid occurs.
- Bad habits. Alcohol and cigarettes cause acidity.
People with high levels of hydrochloric acid should not eat harmful foods.
How is it detected?
Gastritis with high acidity can be identified by finding the following symptoms:
- Aching pain in the left hypochondrium.
- Often, patients suffering from gastritis suffer from frequent heartburn.
- Burp sour. This symptom is also called acid reflux, belching sour indicates an excess of acid in the stomach, so the patient feels an unpleasant aftertaste. With gastritis with low acidity, belching gives off rotten.
- Nausea and vomiting. Nausea may occur due to a long break between meals, and vomiting may be due to an erosive process, or the patient has eaten a lot of acidic food, and the body has no choice but to get rid of too much acid.
- Bloating. Usually, with increased acidity, a person has constipation, against whichthere is bloating and gas formation of the abdomen.
- Decrease or increase in appetite. If the gastritis is superficial, then after eating the amount of acid in the stomach decreases, and the patient may still want to eat. And if the gastritis is acute, then after eating the stomach may ache, and the appetite will worsen or disappear altogether.
- Night stomach pains. Usually the stomach starts to hurt when it is empty, so it hurts most often at night. With chronic gastritis, the symptoms are not so pronounced, pain can appear if you abuse alcohol, eat poorly, eat a lot of acidic foods.
Many are interested in the question - is it possible to smoke with gastritis with high acidity? The answer of the doctors sounds categorically: no way! Smoking provokes the growth of acid in the gastrointestinal tract.
It is necessary to undergo certain medical examinations that will confirm a disease such as gastritis, such as fibrogastroscopy.
Diagnosis
High acidity is a painful condition that is caused by a change in the composition of gastric juice. It becomes more viscous, acidic and aggressively affects the mucous membranes of the stomach, intestines, and esophagus. This phenomenon can be diagnosed with the help of a comprehensive examination, which reveals not only a change in the main function of the digestive system, but also a number of diseases that occur against the background of active splitting - ulcers, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, dyspepsia.
Ulcer, ulcerative colitis, perforation
This disorder goes hand in hand with a change in acidity, sinceare directly related to the slightest fluctuations in secretion. The first diagnostic methods for detecting such conditions are: FGS, urine and blood tests, biochemical blood tests (ASAT, ALAT and enzymes).
Gastritis
A mild form of damage to the mucous membranes of the stomach. Doctors call it a harbinger of an ulcerative condition and associate it with a change in the secretion of gastric juice, malnutrition, and metabolic disorders. Diagnosis of this disease is reduced to an X-ray of the stomach, taking primary tests (blood, urine, feces), biochemical and toxic blood tests.
Gastroduodenitis
A complex multi-component disease that affects every possible aspect of digestion. When this disease appears, the level of acidity immediately changes. Characteristic symptoms and laboratory methods of examination (including a blood test for a toxic nature) help to determine this fact.
Complications
Increased acidity of gastric juice is an intermediate condition, which is one of the determining factors in the development of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Prolonged exposure to an aggressive environment can lead to:
- gastric and duodenal ulcers;
- gastritis;
- gastroduodenitis;
- chronic esophagitis;
- persistent metabolic disorder.
All these diseases very quickly pass into the chronic stage, as the secret eats away the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines,causing them to become thinner and work worse. Over time, the acid, accumulated in large quantities, begins to penetrate into the intestine, poisoning the capillary networks. This leads to the appearance of blood in stool tests and a general deterioration in well-being.
Strong symptomatic manifestations of hyperacidity are:
- heartburn;
- indigestion;
- pain after eating;
- stool disorder;
- not passing feeling of discomfort.
Medicated treatment of hyperacidity
Therapy is the same as for normal heartburn. With the exception of drugs associated with the normalization of the functions of the digestive system - enzymes.
Drug list:
- "Kvamatel" - a drug that blocks histamine receptors.
- Omeprazole is a drug that inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid.
- "Hilak-forte", "Linex" - prescribed for the appearance of intestinal disorders.
- Folic acid - able to normalize the absorption of useful trace elements, increase the contractile strength of the muscles of the esophagus.
- B vitamins - have a general beneficial effect on the nerve fiber. Helps to resolve problems associated with changes in metabolism.
- Enzymes - "Creon", "Pancreatin". Help the body digest food, increase appetite.
- Nicotinic acid - improves blood circulation in the stomach. Facilitates the absorption of nutrients.
- Retinol (vitamin A) - accelerates the healing of the mucous membrane. Helps resist infectious, inflammatory processes.
- Vitamin U - it is produced in tablet form. Vitamin is prescribed for the prevention of acute conditions. It affects the integrity of the mucous membranes, counteracts the appearance of internal scars, and stabilizes metabolic processes.
Folk treatment for hyperacidity
After eating, there may be an unpleasant feeling, especially after dishes with spicy spices. A burning sensation in the esophagus is called heartburn.
Gastric juice is an important element in the digestion of food. It contains hydrochloric acid. With an increased concentration of hydrochloric acid, stomach diseases (ulcers, gastritis) occur. If heartburn occurs constantly, then treatment should be taken.
Folk treatments
If the patient has increased acidity, a folk remedy is exactly what is needed to normalize it. However, do not forget to consult your doctor! Here are some tips you can apply:
- Infusion of mint leaves. For cooking, use a pinch of leaves and brew them in hot water. Then strain and use three times.
- Sea buckthorn oil. Place fresh sea buckthorn berries in a container with cold water and close the lid. Shake well for a few minutes. After that, oil will appear on the surface. Collect sea buckthorn oil from the surface of the water and drink one tablespoon three times half an hour before meals.
- Carrot juice. Carrot juice reduces the concentration of hydrochloric acid. It should be drunk one glass a day.
- Mineral waters. Drink mineral water should be half a glass before meals. Do this for four weeks. It is recommended to warm the water before drinking.
- Decoction of chamomile flowers. For one glass of water, use two teaspoons of flowers. After brewing, let it brew and strain. Consume daily half an hour before meals.
- Honey. Add one hundred grams of honey to half a liter of warm water. The composition should be diluted and drunk before meals. The duration of treatment is two months. Honey diluted in water is very useful for patients who suffer from ulcers and gastritis.
- Aloe. Squeeze aloe leaves, dilute the resulting juice in water. Drink daily before meals.
- Potato juice. Squeeze juice from fresh potatoes and drink no more than ten days. Only fresh juice should be consumed, so it will have to be prepared every day. Drink daily in small portions at bedtime.
- Decoction of herbs. Herbal decoctions will help reduce the high acid content. Among them, one of the most effective is a decoction of sea buckthorn berries. Add four tablespoons of berries to two glasses of boiling water, let it brew. Take within four days. This decoction can be taken with honey.
If you use traditional medicine, you can recover from high acidity.
Physiotherapy against disease
Today, medicine knows several ways of physiotherapy treatment with a high degree ofefficiency.
The easiest way to treat is the use of mineral water. It is often prescribed during the treatment of high acidity in gastritis and other ailments. All mineral water is divided into different ions that dominate in its composition, and classified into 5 groups:
- alkaline;
- sulfate;
- chloride;
- water enriched with magnesium;
- glandular.
But opinions about whether it is possible to drink mineral water with increased acidity in the acute stage differ. In order not to provoke an even greater pathology, you need to consult a doctor.
Magnetotherapy is a fairly common type of physiotherapy, it involves treatment with a magnetic field. Its essence lies in the formation of eddy currents in the gastric mucosa, due to which there is a strong release of heat, expansion of blood vessels and increased breathing.
One of the leading techniques is treatment by aerotherapy, the essence of which is to fill the patient's body with oxygen, by cooling the skin receptors and nerve endings of the mucous membrane. Aerotherapy is an obligatory component of spa treatment.
Prevention
Revealed such a disease as gastritis with high acidity? Do not worry. After all, there are ways to prevent the deterioration of the condition and make the course of the disease easier (or prevent it altogether):
- Drug treatment. The doctor may prescribe medicines in the form of tablets and suspensions that will not allow an increase inacidity and prevent pain in the stomach.
- Exclude the following foods: fatty fish, fried, sour and s alty foods, canned food, vinegar, chocolate, strong coffee and tea.
- To reduce acidity, easily digestible and high-calorie food is recommended, food should be steamed, and the consistency should be liquid (oatmeal, jelly), eat in small portions and often.
- Periodic visit to the doctor. If hyperacidity has already been discovered, then you need to regularly visit your doctor once or twice a year for a routine examination.
- Timely treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, if necessary.
- Stressful situations are best avoided because they can also increase acidity.
One of the most important organs of the digestive system is the stomach. It participates in the processes of accumulation and processing of food, the function of splitting, promotes the secretion of gastric juice.
Measurement of the normal level of acidity is made in the calculation of hydrogen ions.
Methods for researching indicators:
- pH-metry.
- Probing.
- acidotest.
Symptoms of acid stomach:
- Heartburn after eating.
- Burp.
- Meteorism.
- Fixing feces.
- Pain in the stomach
Diets when detecting acidity
Due to the identification of problems with the gastrointestinal tract system, the doctor is credited with a diet forhyperacidity.
The following are the main recommendations for a he althy diet. They will help relieve periods of exacerbations with high acidity. Your diet should consist mainly of warm lean soups and borscht, with the broth diluted in a ratio of one to one. Be sure to include in the menu with high acidity:
- carrot;
- potatoes (boiled or baked only);
- broccoli;
- spinach;
- pumpkin (pumpkin soups, porridge, baked);
- cottage cheese;
- milk;
- quail eggs;
- boiled or baked meat of chicken, beef, rabbit, turkey;
- cutlets or steamed meatballs;
- hard pasta only;
- fresh greens.
It is worth giving up the following types of food for a certain period:
- cholesterol-containing foods;
- fried;
- fat;
- spicy;
- spices;
- coffee;
- cabbage;
- radish and radish;
- carbonated drink;
- mushrooms;
- smoked meats;
- bread and pastries.
Also acid-increasing foods include:
- garlic;
- bow;
- apples (sour varieties);
- tomatoes;
- spices;
- fatty foods;
- coffee, chocolate;
- citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, etc.).
To treat and normalize the level of hydrochloric acid in the digestive tract, harmful foods must be excluded.
To normalize aciditydiet is fine.
It is worth drinking more dried fruit compotes and non-carbonated drinking water. It is also worth noting that food should be fractional and portioned.
No need to abuse s alt and pickles either. Along with this, in no case should you drink alcoholic beverages, this can increase painful attacks in the stomach.
It is useful to use a variety of fresh sweet berries and as an addition to cereals. The undoubted benefit to the gastrointestinal tract will be the intake of home-made yoghurts from starters. Another condition for accelerating recovery with high acidity is the elimination of hunger, which reduces pain. At the same time, you should refuse to eat food before bedtime.
