Acidity Symptoms, Causes, Diet, Prevention

Acidity refers to a set of symptoms caused by an imbalance between the acid secreting mechanism of the stomach and proximal intestine and the protective mechanisms that ensure their safety. The stomach normally secretes acid that is essential in the digestive process. This acid helps in breaking down the food during digestion. When there is excess production of acid by the gastric glands of the stomach, it results in the condition known as acidity.Many people take over-the-counter antacids for a quick ease of acid stomach, but for most people, a proper diet is the best solution for overcoming acid stomach.

Symptoms and Signs
Dyspepsia and heartburn are often the main symptoms of acidity. Heartburn is characterised by a deeply placed, burning pain in the chest behind the sternum (breast-bone). It occurs after meals and is brought on by excess intra-abdominal pressure like lifting weights or straining. It can also occur at night on lying down and is relieved when the individual sits up. The pain is very closely related to posture. Regurgitation of the gastric contents may also occur. The symptoms of ulcers are mainly pain that can be either localised or diffused. Sometimes it radiates to the back or to the chest. The most common symptom is dyspepsia, a burning or aching pain in the upper abdomen sometimes described as a "stabbing feeling penetrating through the width of the gut". Rarely, there is no pain at all, but only a feeling of indigestion or nausea. Eating a meal usually relieves the pain in duodenal ulcer, but in a gastric ulcer there may be no change, or the pain may become worse. Peptic ulcer disease can sometimes occur without symptoms. Symptoms may also arise when there is no ulcer present, which is known as non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Identifying and treatment of acidity
Identifying and avoiding the causative factors are essential in the treatment of acidity. A suitable diet must be strictly followed avoiding spicy, salty and acidic foods. Smoking and alcohol consumption must be stopped. Those with highly nervous and emotional disposition and those involved in high-stress jobs must be encouraged to take lifestyle modifying measures. Antacids provide immediate relief of symptoms by neutralising the excess acid secreted. A group of drugs called H2 Receptor Blockers cause the stomach to produce less acid by blocking histamine receptors (example: Drugs like Cimetidine , Ranitidine, Famotidine or Nizatidine). Another group of drugs called the Proton Pump Inhibitors, which selectively disable a mechanism in acid-making cells thus stopping acid production are more powerful and include Omeprazole and Lansoprazole

Acid Stomach Diet
First of all, try to eat small frequent meals instead of 3 big meals a day. Small amount of food each time would exert less workload on the stomach and therefore requires less acid secretion for digestion. Make sure to include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates in each meal. These foods, such as rice, breads and pasta, are able to tie up excess stomach acid and are often easy on the stomach. Avoid high-fat meals such as those from the fast food chains. High fat foods will remain in the stomach longer in which more acid is secreted to digest them. But remember, don't overeat! Eating too much of any foods will stimulate the stomach to secret more acids for digestion. Avoid or limit alcohol, chocolate, foods containing caffeine such as coffee and tea Maintain upright position during and at least 45 mins after eating Try elevating the head of bed 6 - 8 inches when lying down. Don't think that beverages just quickly flow through your stomach without affecting acid production. Surprisingly, a lot of beverages stimulate acid secretion such as beer, wine and pop. The worst of all is beer. It could double your stomach acid within an hour.

Myth 1: Drink milk
A lot of people try drinking milk to ease acid stomach before sleep. But often, milk ends up causing acid stomach during sleep. To understand the whole situation, we have to realize that the problem roots from eating too much at dinner time. Eating a big meal at dinner causes excess stomach acid production. Drinking milk could be a quick fix to the acid stomach problem. Unfortunately, milk has a rebound action and would eventually encourage secretion of more stomach acid, which causes the acid stomach. To solve the problem, try adjusting your diet by eating a small meal at dinner and have a small snack such as crackers before sleep.

Myth 2: Avoid coffee, citrus fruits and Spicy food
We have been told for years that coffee, acidic fruit as well as spicy foods can aggravate acid stomach. Therefore, we should avoid these in our daily diet in order to reduce acid stomach. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in May 2006 showed that none of these myths hold true. Researchers from the Stanford University found that the only two behavioral changes can reduce symptoms of acid stomach - eating less and elevate your head while sleeping.

1. Take one piece of Clove and suck on it slowly. This will give you relief from acidity and also help in reducing the onslaught of diseases arising out of acidity.

Almonds- can relieve hearburn. Eat several almonds when heartburn symptoms persist.
Lemons- can prevent hearburn. Cut a lemon into thin strips and dip in salt. Eat before meals to prevent heartburn.Lemon rind can also be eaten to prevent heartburn.

Prevention
Prevention mainly consists of avoiding the known causative factors like alcohol consumption, spicy foods, drugs like NSAID's, steroids etc. Patients with highly nervous and emotional disposition and those involved in high-stress jobs must be given psychological treatment. Avoiding non-vegetarian diets is also useful in minimising symptoms of acidity.