Stomach acid disease or acid reflux interferes with eating and sleeping patterns. See the cause, symptom and how to prevent stomach acid.
The initial sign or symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, but many other symptoms are signs of this acid reflux disease. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid that is naturally produced in the stomach to aid digestion returns to the esophagus.
However, it can cause a number of uncomfortable acid reflux symptoms and can even lead to cancer.
Causes of Stomach Acid
Bariatric surgeon Arundathi Rao founded a reflux clinic based in Florida, United States. Rao saw so many cases of the condition in the United States. According to him, the biggest underestimated factor for acid reflux is anything that increases pressure in the stomach.
Then various factors can cause it, obesity, pregnancy, often lifting heavy objects, smoking, COPD, chronic cough, or undergoing surgery “tummy tuck“.
Stomach Acid Symptoms
Mouth tastes sour or bitter
If stomach acid rises from the stomach to the back of the throat to the mouth, you can taste sour or bitter.
Some sufferers also report a sour or bitter taste in the mouth followed by a burning sensation in the throat and mouth.
Regurgitation
Regurgitation is the feeling of liquid, food, or stomach acid moving up the esophagus.
Some patients who experience regurgitation can vomit.
Infants and children with GERD may experience recurrent regurgitation.
Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia is a digestive problem that causes discomfort in the middle or upper part of the stomach.
Patients with gastric acid disease who experience dyspepsia can feel nausea, heartburn, stomach pain, bloating, bloating, frequent burping, and vomiting.
Sore Throat
Another symptom of stomach acid relapse is sore throat.
The rise of stomach acid disease from the stomach into the esophagus can irritate the throat.
Inevitably sufferers can experience sore throat, hoarseness, until the sensation of a lump in the throat arises.
Dry Cough
Another symptom of stomach acid rise is a dry cough. Dry cough because the throat is irritated by stomach acid is common in children and adults.
The repeated coughing is the body’s natural reaction to clear the throat of foreign substances, including stomach acid disease.
Other symptoms of Stomach Acid Disease
Other symptoms of acid reflux and the most commonly found are as follows:
- Indigestion
- Chronic cough
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Voice changes (due to the effect of stomach acid on the vocal cords)
- Chronic sinusitis and ear infections
- Increased postnasal drip
- Frequent pneumonia
The most serious symptom, namely stomach acid can increase the risk of esophageal cancer, which is increasing in frequency.
If you have persistent acid reflux, Rao recommends seeing your doctor before buying over-the-counter heartburn medications.
“It’s important to complete a checkup before you make proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers a regular part of your routine,” says Rao.
According to Rao, if it turns out that the result is a case of mild stomach acid and is not ready for regular treatment, you can just use medicine.
The criteria for this stomach acid drug are to reduce stomach acid production, but will not stop reflux.
Because if you have a physical problem that causes reflux such as a hiatal hernia, the best way is to fix the problem with surgery.
You need to be alert and seek medical care immediately if stomach acid symptoms arising from the stomach into the esophagus is quite severe and causes the following symptoms:
- Stomach pain and heartburn are very severe
- Accompanied by chest pain
- Chest feels like it’s being squeezed, tight, and it hurts a lot
Emergency treatment is also needed if acid reflux disease is accompanied by symptoms of:
- Hard to breathe
- Nauseous
- Dizzy
- Sweating
- There is pain that radiates from the abdomen and chest to the arms, shoulders, back, neck, or jaw
Immediately take the patient to the ER if symptoms of stomach acid rise accompanied by vomiting or bloody stools.
How to prevent It
Regulating a lifestyle is very important in preventing stomach acid, the following points must be considered:
- Don’t eat or drink too soon before bed
- Cut back on caffeine and alco**hol, both of which can stimulate stomach acid production
- Cut back on foods that can worsen acid reflux, such as chocolate
- Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if necessary
- Eat a healthy diet, emphasizing whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, minimizing processed foods. Because the less food is processed, the less chemicals contain in the food is better.
- Avoid overeating. Because in this day and age, overeating is a common thing with the stress that a person is facing.
