Increased acidity of the stomach
The content of the article:
- Causes
- Symptoms of increased gastric acidity
- Diagnostics
- Treatment of high acidity of the stomach
- Diet with increased acidity of the stomach
- Treatment of high acidity of the stomach with folk methods
- Prevention
- Potential consequences and complications
The increased acidity of the stomach has a negative effect on the digestive processes and the state of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, it becomes the cause of discomfort. It is associated with some diseases of the digestive system, including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
Excessive acidity in the stomach causes discomfort
The acidity of the stomach, that is, the pH of the gastric juice, is determined by the concentration of hydrochloric acid it contains, produced by the parietal cells. Hydrochloric acid is essential for normal digestion. Its main functions:
- gives antibacterial properties to gastric juice;
- activates the action of digestive enzymes in gastric juice;
- denatures proteins, and also promotes their swelling;
- stimulates the secretory activity of the pancreas;
- regulates the evacuation function of the stomach.
Causes
The most common cause of increased gastric acidity is the alimentary factor, that is, improper, inappropriate nutrition. Spicy, salty, fatty foods, alcoholic beverages have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, as a result of which parietal cells begin to secrete hydrochloric acid in a larger than required amount. Too fast absorption of food is also an alimentary factor. In this case, a badly chewed food lump, not sufficiently moistened with saliva, containing too large particles, enters the stomach. For its digestion, a larger amount of gastric juice is required, and therefore, hydrochloric acid, which leads to increased production of acid, therefore, to an increase in the acidity of gastric juice.
The most common cause of stomach acidity is unhealthy diet.
Other causes of increased stomach acidity can be:
- Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and / or corticosteroids, as they irritate the gastric mucosa.
- Chronic stress. By itself, it does not have a negative effect on the state of the organs of the digestive system, however, being in a depressed state, a person ceases to eat right, often smokes, drinks alcohol, which negatively affects the gastric mucosa.
- Smoking. Nicotine has a stimulating effect on parietal cells, resulting in an increase in stomach acidity.
- Helicobacter pylori infection. It is a unique microorganism that can survive in an acidic environment. Once in the stomach, bacteria produce urease, which irritates the walls of the stomach. In an effort to destroy these bacteria, stomach cells intensively synthesize hydrochloric acid and pepsin.
Symptoms of increased gastric acidity
The main symptoms of increased gastric acidity are epigastric pain and heartburn. The pain is pulling, aching and dull in nature, in most cases occurs 1.5-2 hours after eating. Heartburn develops as a result of gastric juice entering the esophagus. Often, its appearance is provoked by the consumption of foods that increase the acidity of the stomach:
- orange or tomato juice;
- spicy and / or fatty foods;
- smoked meats;
- some types of mineral water.
Heartburn is the main symptom of increased stomach acidity
Other symptoms of stomach acidity are:
- nausea, and in some cases, vomiting, which occurs 15-20 minutes after eating;
- sour belching;
- constipation;
- flatulence;
- frequent intestinal colic;
- the appearance on the tongue of a white-gray bloom.
Diagnostics
To determine the acidity of gastric juice in clinical practice, the following methods are used:
- Intragastric pH-metry. With the help of a special device, the acidity of the stomach is determined in its various departments. The method allows for both short-term and daily pH-metry.
- Fractional gastric intubation. The procedure is performed on an empty stomach. A thick tube is introduced into the patient's stomach through the mouth, and then, using Janet's syringe, the gastric contents are sucked out at regular intervals. This technique allows you to assess the features of the secretory function of the stomach, as well as to make a laboratory study of gastric juice to determine its pH. However, fractional probing cannot provide accurate results, since gastric juice is mixed from different zones, and in addition, the probe itself irritates the gastric mucosa. Normally, the content of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice should be 0.4–0.5%.
- Gastrotest, or acidotest. Before the start of the study, the patient completely empties the bladder, after which he takes special drugs inside. After a certain period of time, the patient urinates again and the acidity of the gastric juice is assessed by the degree of urine staining. The method is imperfect, therefore it is rarely used now.
Intraventricular pH meter helps determine stomach acidity
You can also detect an increase in gastric acidity at home. To do this, you should drink a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice without any additives on an empty stomach. If after a while there is a burning sensation behind the breastbone, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the epigastric region, then the acidity is most likely increased.
Treatment of high acidity of the stomach
Drug treatment of increased gastric acidity is carried out with drugs of the following pharmacological groups:
- proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Pantoprozole, Nolpaza) - reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach by blocking H + / K + -ATPase;
- blockers of H 2 -histamine receptors (Ranitidine, Cimetidine) - blocking histamine receptors, thereby reducing the secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin;
- antacids (Phosphalugel, Almagel, Rennie, Gastal) - neutralize the hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, thereby eliminating heartburn, pain and discomfort;
- blockers of M 1 -cholinoreceptors, which have a predominant effect on the receptors of the stomach (Gastrocepin) - inhibit the secretion of pepsin and hydrochloric acid, have a gastroprotective effect;
- antibacterial drugs - therapy for helicobacteriosis.
With severe pain syndrome, antispasmodics (Papaverine, No-shpa) are prescribed, as well as local anesthetics inside (novocaine solution, tablets with anesthesin).
Omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors help reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid
Some patients take a baking soda solution by mouth to eliminate symptoms of increased gastric acidity. Soda enters into a neutralization reaction with hydrochloric acid, as a result, pains and abdominal pain and heartburn quickly disappear. But such treatment of increased gastric acidity leads in the future to an even greater secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells. As a result of a chemical reaction between baking soda and hydrochloric acid, table salt and carbonic acid are formed, which is an unstable chemical compound that easily decomposes into water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide irritates the gastric mucosa, thereby provoking an increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid. As a result, there is an even greater increase in the acidity of the stomach. This phenomenon in medicine is called "acid rebound".
Diet with increased acidity of the stomach
Modern pharmacological treatment of increased gastric acidity allows you to quickly eliminate the patient's complaints and improve his condition. However, in most cases, after a while, patients again begin to suffer from epigastric pain and heartburn. To prevent relapse, it is extremely important to adhere to proper nutrition for a long time, and even better - for life. The basic rules of a diet with increased gastric acidity are:
- food intake 5-6 times a day in small portions (so-called fractional meals);
- providing mechanical and chemical sparing of the stomach;
- a diet fully balanced in terms of the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and microelements.
With increased acidity of the stomach, diet number 1 according to Pevzner is recommended
For patients suffering from diseases accompanied by increased acidity of gastric juice, a diet No. 1 according to Pevzner has been developed, which corresponds to the listed principles. During the period of a sharp exacerbation of the disease, patients are prescribed diet number 1a for 6-8 days: dishes are prepared only by stewing or boiling, they are wiped and served warm, products that can irritate the gastric mucosa and increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid are excluded:
- raw vegetables, berries and fruits;
- alcohol, carbonated drinks, strong tea, cocoa, coffee;
- chocolate;
- spices, spices, sauces;
- fermented milk products (including cheese);
- bakery products.
During the period of a mild exacerbation, as well as with a decrease in the intensity of clinical manifestations of exacerbation, diet No. 1 is recommended. With her, dishes are prepared by stewing, boiling, steaming and baking in the oven (without the formation of a crust). Well-cooked meat or fish can be served in portions, all other dishes should have a mushy consistency. The diet is limited to foods that have a stimulating effect on the gastric mucosa, such as broths. Completely excluded:
- spices and spices;
- chocolate, ice cream;
- sour and unripe berries, fruits;
- cabbage, onions, turnips, rutabagas, cucumbers, radishes, sorrel, spinach;
- mushrooms;
- legumes;
- marinades and pickles;
- corn, pearl barley, barley, millet groats;
- fried or hard-boiled eggs;
- spicy and salty cheeses;
- fatty fish;
- fatty meats;
- fresh and / or rye bread.
Treatment of high acidity of the stomach with folk methods
As with any other pathology, a doctor should prescribe the treatment of increased acidity of the stomach. By agreement with him, the therapy regimen can be supplemented with some folk remedies, for example:
- carrot juice;
- freshly squeezed juice from red potato tubers;
- water infusion of chaga (birch mushroom);
- water infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, peppermint, St. John's wort, centaury).
Prevention
Prevention of the development of increased gastric acidity should be based, first of all, on the organization of correct, balanced nutrition:
- eating food in small portions;
- thoroughly chewing food;
- inclusion in the diet of foods rich in plant fiber, vitamins, trace elements, protein;
- limiting fatty and spicy foods;
- refusal to eat fast food, snacks, so-called junk food;
- giving up alcoholic beverages and smoking.
The correct way of life plays an important role in the prevention of increased acidity of the stomach:
- avoidance of stressful situations;
- regular sports;
- observance of the optimal regime of work and rest.
It is also necessary to promptly treat infectious diseases, since they can lead to a disruption of the secretory activity of the cells of the gastric mucosa.
Potential consequences and complications
Excessive content of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice is dangerous for the development of severe complications that are difficult to treat. The ingress of aggressive gastric contents into the lumen of the esophagus is not only accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of heartburn, but also causes damage to its mucous membrane. Long-term gastroesophageal reflux is the main reason for the formation of an esophageal ulcer, and in the subsequent and its possible transformation into a malignant tumor.
Esophageal ulcer can be a complication of stomach acidity.
An increased concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice can damage the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Initially, such damage is superficial and is called erosion. In the future, the defect extends into the depths, which leads to the formation of stomach and duodenal ulcers. This is a serious disease that requires long-term systematic treatment. In the absence of therapy, it can lead to serious complications:
- malignancy of the ulcer;
- internal bleeding;
- perforation (perforation) of the ulcer;
- stenosis of the pylorus of the stomach and / or duodenum with impaired patency;
- peritonitis.
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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
