Acidity Symptoms

You’ve probably doubled over with a strange and burning sensation in your upper stomach a couple of times already but can’t identify the exact cause of this! The answer: acidity or acid reflux or gastritis. Acidity is basically when there is an imbalance in the secretion of acids in the stomach and the mechanism that ensures balance doesn’t happen. Your body produces acidic fluid in the stomach in response to the food you eat to aid digestion. Excess production of this acid due to various reasons is the cause of acidity, also known as hyperacidity. The acid in question is hydrochloric acid that moves up from your stomach to your esophagus (wind pipe) during this condition and makes digestion highly dysfunctional. If left untreated for a long time, it might lead to other diseases such as gout, ulcers, chronic indigestion or arthritis. To know more about the causes, symptoms and tips about acidity, read the next section carefully.

Symptoms Of Acidity

Before getting into the symptoms of acidity, it is important to know what all can cause this.

Causes

Bad eating habits – eating spicy and fried foods. This gives the gastric juices extra work and puts undue pressure on the stomach, liver and kidneys causing an over secretion of acid. Drinking alcohol, tea and coffee can also be a cause. Such foods must be avoided but even if consumed, exercise is a must to avoid acidity.
Swallowing food too quickly. The enzymes in the digestive system do not have enough time to complete the breakdown process and as a result some acids are left behind in the stomach.
Gaps between meals cause the stomach to release the acids and since no food is found, they react with the walls of the stomach and cause that burning sensation.
Medical conditions such as stomach ulcers, hyperthyroidism and acid refluxes can also be a common cause.
Mental conditions such as stress, anxiety, excitement and anger can also be the reason for acidity.
Constipation and intestinal problems are another reason.

Signs And Symptoms

Pain/burning on an empty stomach
Hair loss
Diarrhea or constipation
Undigested stools
Acid taste in the mouth
Nausea or sometimes vomiting itself
Flatulence after eating and bloated feeling
Food allergies and loss of appetite but feeling of hunger
Itchiness in rectal area
Chest pain
Voice change and formation of ulcer in esophagus

Treatment

Water, water and more water! It not only flushes out the toxins but also aids in proper digestion. It is scientifically proven that water neutralizes the production of acid. Tender coconut water might also do some good.
Antacids are the best cure. Consult a doctor for a prescription.
Consume light meals before going to bed, as this gives the digestive system some time to recover. Eat slowly and chew properly because most of the digestion starts with the saliva itself. Never ever skip a meal.
Fruits such as banana, watermelon and cucumber, which contain lots of water, vitamins and minerals, have been found to be highly helpful in treating acidity naturally. Avoid citrus fruits (lemon and orange) and include more herbal teas and greens in your diet. Spicy foods such as chilli, garlic, onion need to be excluded.
A good home remedy for those suffering with constant acidity is: one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar added to one teaspoon of honey and mixed in water. Drink this after meals – it works well in reducing acidity.

After reading this, hope you have learned the tricks of dealing with acid attacks!

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