Stomach acid rises, how to deal with it?

Definition

What is increased stomach acid?

Gastric acid is an acid consisting of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and hydrochloric acid. The acid produced by the stomach as much as 3 to 4 liters of fluid per day functions to digest food and digestive enzymes to break down protein.

Gastric acid is corrosive, so it kills bacteria and also risks damaging the protective lining of the stomach. Fortunately, the human stomach or stomach is equipped with mucus that covers the stomach wall to prevent hydrochloric acid.

Normally, the pH of stomach acid ranges from 1 to 3. When the stomach produces too much acid, gastric upset can occur. The reason is, this can cause a backflow of stomach acid or stomach acid that rises into the esophagus.

This backflow of acids is a normal part of the movement of the digestive system. That is why, this condition, which is also called acid reflux, is not a disease, but a symptom.

Even so, frequent stomach acid reflux can cause a burning sensation in the chest and throat (heartburn).

This means that the stomach ring muscle (sphincter), which is the acid-holding valve to keep it in the stomach, does not function normally. As a result, you are at risk of developing acid reflux disease or GERD.

How common is this condition?

Acid reflux is not a disease, but a symptom of certain diseases. However, this condition can happen to anyone, especially people who experience digestive problems related to the stomach.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of increased stomach acid?

When stomach acid rises into the esophagus, you may experience several symptoms similar to digestive problems, such as:

stomach discomfort, especially when it's empty,
nausea and vomiting,
bloated,
a burning sensation in the chest,
ulcer,
diarrhea,
decreased appetite, and
weight loss suddenly.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience one or more of the symptoms that have been mentioned and occur repeatedly, you should consult a doctor. That way, the doctor can help diagnose the cause of the condition being experienced and find ways to overcome it.

Cause

What causes stomach acid to rise?

The main cause of increased stomach acid is excessive production of the hormone gastrin. Gastrin is a hormone produced by "G" cells in the lining of the stomach and upper small intestine.

This hormone functions to stimulate the stomach to release stomach acid. Excessive gastrin production can also be triggered by the following conditions.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disease. This disease causes tumors to appear in your pancreas and small intestine, or commonly referred to as gastrinomas.

Gastrinomas can trigger excess gastrin production and cause stomach acid to rise.

Infection Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that can attack the lining that protects the stomach. These bacteria can also stimulate the stomach to produce more acid in some people, but it is not known the exact cause.

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease patients are more likely to experience acid reflux. The exact cause is unknown. However, this may be related to the kidneys not functioning properly.

Abnormal kidney function turns out to have the potential not to clear the gastrin hormone properly. This can trigger an increase in gastrin levels which can also produce more acid from the stomach.

Hypersecretion of gastric acid

One type of drug to lower stomach acid is H2 blockers. However, there are times when this drug can actually trigger stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus.

On the other hand, abruptly discontinuing therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has also been reported to increase stomach acid. Even so, further research is needed regarding this condition.

Risk Factors

What factors could increase my risk for this?

Acid reflux can happen to anyone. However, there are several conditions that can increase a person's risk of this condition, including:

suddenly stop taking drugs to lower stomach acid,
infected with bacteria Helicobacter pylori, or
genetic factors in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Diagnosis

How to diagnose this condition?

One way to diagnose whether your stomach acid has risen or not is to undergo a stomach acid test.

Gastric acid check

A stomach acid test is a procedure used to measure the amount of acid in the stomach. This examination is also done to see the level of acidity in the stomach.

This procedure is done after you are asked not to eat for several hours, so that only fluid is left in the stomach. Then, the fluid will be drained through a tube that is inserted into the stomach through the esophagus.

In addition, the hormone gastrin may also be injected into the body. This aims to test the ability of cells in the stomach to release acid. After that, the stomach contents will be removed and analyzed in the laboratory.

The normal volume of gastric fluid is 20 - 100 mL with an acidic pH of 1.5 to 3.5. If more than that, you may be experiencing certain diseases, such as GERD or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Medicine and Medicine

What are the drug options to treat rising stomach acid?

There are many ways you can deal with rising stomach acid, from drug use to lifestyle changes. Here are some medications that you can use to treat acid reflux.

Antacids

Antacids are a drug that is widely used by people to reduce stomach acid. These over-the-counter medicines usually contain simethicone, a compound that helps remove excess gas in the body.

H2 receptor blockers

Apart from antacids, other drugs used to treat acid reflux are H2 receptor blockers. The use of this drug aims to inhibit gastric acid secretion so that the amount is not large.

There are also several H2 blockers that are used to treat acid reflux, including:

cimetidine,
ranitidine,
famotidine, or
nizatidine.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)

Compared to antacids and H2 blockers, PPIs are much stronger against stomach acid. This is because PPIs deactivate ATPase, or the proton pump which plays an important role in acid secretion, thereby inhibiting acid secretion.

The types of proton pump inhibitors that are often used include:

lansoprazole,
esomeprazole,
rabeprazole, or
pantoprazole.

Lower esophageal sphincter strengthening medication

Baclofen (Lioresal®) is a muscle stretcher and antispastic drug used to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter. However, the side effects of baclofen can cause fatigue or nausea.

A number of acid reflux drugs are easy to find in pharmacies and can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. Meanwhile, some of them require a doctor's prescription, such as Baclofen.

Always follow the instructions for using stomach acid drugs that are listed on the product label or according to a doctor's prescription. If the condition does not improve after taking over-the-counter drugs, consult a doctor immediately.

Home Remedies

How do you deal with rising stomach acid at home?

Apart from getting medication and treatment from your doctor, you can also treat stomach acid reflux with home remedies. Here are some ways you can lower stomach acid at home to support medicines.

Eat more regularly

One of the triggers for acid reflux is irregular eating patterns. Therefore, always try to have the same mealtime every day.

This diet when experiencing stomach acid also applies when you are about to sleep. You are advised not to eat two hours before bed because it can trigger acid to rise up into the throat while sleeping.

Avoid certain foods

Paying attention to food intake is also important if you are prone to developing acid reflux disease. There are several foods and drinks that can trigger acid reflux and need to be avoided, namely:

chocolate,
soda,
fried foods,
alcohol,
high fat meat and milk,
caffeine,
citrus fruit,
onions, and
tomato.

Pay attention to the portion of the meal

Another way to deal with stomach acid is to pay attention to eating portions. This is because eating large portions can trigger reflux. In order not to starve, you can eat more often, but in smaller portions.

Chew food properly

Even though it looks trivial, this needs to be considered because it can help the digestive enzymes process food easily. That way, the risk of stomach acid rises or even severe GERD symptoms can be avoided.

Quit smoking

If you smoke or consume tobacco, it is advisable to quit. The reason is, the nicotine from tobacco relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter muscles. This allows stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.

Choose foods that are good for stomach acid

In addition to scheduling meal times, you also need to be more selective when choosing foods to consume to reduce stomach acid. The wrong choice of food actually causes stomach acid reflux.

There are also some foods that are good for stomach acid, such as: