Learn everything about acidity (acid reflux) - symptoms, causes,prevention, and natural treatments. Get expert tips to relieve gas, heartburn, and stomach burning fast.
This comprehensive guide helps you understand how to manage and prevent acidity through lifestyle and dietary changes.
Acidity: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Acidity, also known as gas, gastritis, or hyperacidity, is a common problem.
Normally, our stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest food. However, sometimes this acid production increases, leading to various health issues. In this article, we'll discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatments for acidity in detail.
Symptoms of Acidity
Acidity symptoms are mainly categorized into three types: those related to the stomach, the heart, and the intestines.
Stomach-related symptoms:
* Burning sensation, pain, or a heavy feeling in the stomach.
* Bloating in the stomach.
Heart-related symptoms:
* A heavy feeling in the chest.
* Pain or a tight sensation in the heart area.
* A burning sensation in the chest.
Intestine-related symptoms:
* Constipation.
* Excessive gas.
* Stool becoming tight.
In addition to these, some people might experience a rise in body temperature, similar to having a fever.
You might not feel hungry for 3-4 hours after eating, and your mouth may have a bitter taste.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should suspect that your acidity levels have increased. Not everyone will experience all symptoms.
Main Causes of Acidity
There are three main causes of acidity:
mental stress, dietary habits, and other lifestyle habits.
1. Mental Stress:
Our mind is a major cause of acidity. When we are under a lot of tension or stress, our stomach's acid production automatically increases. People who have high-stress jobs are more prone to this problem.
2. Dietary Habits:
The food we eat can be a primary cause of acidity. Here are some foods that can cause acidity:
* Spicy and sour foods: Chilies, green chilies, and foods with a lot of tamarind pulp. Mango pulp is generally okay to some extent.
* Spices and fried foods: Fried items and foods with excessive spices.
* Non-vegetarian food: Meat, especially red meat, can increase acidity.
* Certain vegetables: Vegetables that are not native to India, such as cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, and tomatoes, can cause acidity in some people. Traditional Indian vegetables like bottle gourd, snake gourd, and ridge gourd are excellent for acidity.
* Milk: Today's packaged milk can cause acidity for some people. Pure, desi cow's milk is good for acidity. If you can't find it, you can mix half milk and half water.
3. Other Habits:
* Smoking and alcohol: People with these habits have a very high chance of developing acidity. It's best to try and quit these habits immediately.
* Meal times: Not eating on time is another cause. It's best to have breakfast by 9 AM, lunch by 1 or 1:30 PM, and dinner by 8 PM.
* Sleeping immediately after dinner: After dinner, you should not lie down for at least 3 hours. You can go to sleep if you feel sleepy, but you shouldn't lie down otherwise.
Treatment and Prevention of Acidity
Prevention is better than cure for acidity. You can reduce acidity by following some simple tips:
* Mental calmness: Practicing yoga, meditation, or pranayama can keep your mind calm. Doing 10 minutes of deep breathing pranayama every morning is very beneficial.
* Buttermilk: Drinking one liter of buttermilk every day helps reduce acidity.
* Water: Drinking plenty of water also helps. Barley water is also good.
* Dietary rules: You should reduce spicy foods, sour foods, spices, non-vegetarian food, and fried foods as much as possible.
* Light dinner: Dinner should be very light. For example, two spoonfuls of rice, a cup of lentil soup (dal), or curd.
* Medicines to be careful with: Some medicines can also increase acidity.
* Painkillers: Frequent use of painkillers can cause stomach ulcers. Use them only as prescribed by a doctor.
* Steroids: Unnecessary use of steroids can also increase acidity.
* Sugar medicines: Medicines like Metformin, used for sugar control, can also increase acidity. In such cases, it's best to consult your doctor to adjust your treatment.
Can I take acidity tablets every day?
It is not advisable to take acidity tablets for months or years on end. This is because our stomach needs acid. Taking these tablets can reduce acid production, which can increase the risk of infections from bacteria in food. Therefore, it's best to take them only when necessary. For immediate relief, you can drink a couple of tablespoons of milk, but this should not become a habit.
1. What are the main symptoms of acidity or acid reflux?
Common symptoms include stomach burning, chest pain, bloating, gas, bitter taste, and constipation. These occur due to excess acid production in the stomach.
2. What are the top causes of acidity?
Major causes include stress, irregular meals, spicy or fried foods, smoking, alcohol, and lying down right after eating.
3. How can I treat acidity naturally at home?
Drink buttermilk, coconut water, or barley water, eat light meals, avoid fried and spicy foods, and practice yoga or pranayama daily.
4. Can acidity cause chest pain or heart problems?
Yes, acidity can mimic heart pain due to acid reflux reaching the chest area, but it’s usually not related to heart disease.
5. Is it safe to take acidity tablets daily?
No. Overuse of acidity tablets can harm digestion and increase bacterial infection risk. Use them only when prescribed by a doctor.
6. What are the best foods to avoid acidity?
Eat light, fiber-rich foods like bottle gourd, ridge gourd, rice with dal, and curd. Avoid spicy, fried, and non-vegetarian dishes.
Conclusion:
By using this article, you can identify your acidity symptoms, understand the causes, and make changes to your lifestyle and diet to reduce acidity. By doing this, you may be able to manage the problem without needing to consult a doctor frequently.
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