Stomach acid rises, how to deal with it?

Do you often have heartburn or feel a burning sensation in your chest up to your throat? If so, you probably have an indigestion known as GERD. GERD is similar to stomach acid reflux. But even though they both make stomach acid rise, stomach acid reflux and GERD are not the same.

Acid reflux due to GERD is chronic and usually occurs at least two times per week and can recur at any time. Check out a complete review of GERD including the symptoms, causes and choices of the best stomach acid medicine, along with ways to prevent and treat acid reflux in the future.

What causes gastric pain due to GERD?

The stomach is responsible for breaking down incoming food so that it can be absorbed by the body. Gastric acid is deliberately produced by the stomach to make this job easier. However, when the amount of acid produced is too much, it can cause stomach problems, such as stomach acid reflux

Gastric acid refluxis the backflow of stomach acid or the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus. This backflow of acid is actually a normal part of the movement of the digestive system, so reflux of stomach acid cannot be said to be a disease.

However, if the stomach acid rises very often, it causes a burning sensation in the chest and throat (heartburn), meaning that the stomach ring muscle (sphincter) which functions as an acid-retaining valve so that it continues in the stomach is no longer functioning properly. Well, this condition then causes you to experience stomach acid pain.

Stomach pain is called GERD when it occurs at least more than two times per week. Generally this condition occurs after you eat certain foods that can trigger stomach acid to rise. GERD symptoms can be brief or they can occur during sleep.

In some cases, the cause of acid in the stomach to rise can also be due to pressure on the stomach during pregnancy, obesity, or having a stomach hernia syndrome. In addition, someone who consumes excessive amounts of alcohol, smokes, has diabetes, asthma, and connective tissue disease are also at high risk of developing these diseases.

What are the symptoms of GERD?

When stomach acid rises, the tissue along the wall of the esophagus is irritated by stomach acid. As a result, you will experience heartburn, a burning or painful sensation in the chest that sometimes spreads to the esophagus. This condition usually occurs after eating and the symptoms will get worse at night.

GERD also usually shows symptoms, such as:

• The mouth feels sour
• Sore throat (feels sore)
• Food seems to rise and block the esophagus
• Acid in the back of the mouth
• Nausea
• Gag
• Bloated
• Difficulty swallowing
• Cough or wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Wheezing; cough
• Chest pain, especially when lying down at night
• Hiccup

You should call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. In addition, you should tell your doctor if these symptoms occur frequently and get worse. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Can GERD be cured?

GERD is caused by a malfunctioning of the stomach ring (sphincter) muscle. There is no acid reflux medication that can make these muscles return to normal, but these drugs can help relieve symptoms and prevent their recurrence.

Various ways to deal with rising stomach acid

Apart from medication, stomach pain can actually be easily overcome through a healthier and more balanced diet.

Some dietary rules that you need to pay attention to to help deal with recurrent stomach acid are:

• Eat more regularly. One of the causes of acid reflux in the stomach is an irregular diet. Therefore, try to have the same mealtime every day. In addition, you are also advised not to eat two hours before bed because this can trigger acid to rise up into the throat while sleeping.
• Avoid snacking between meals. This one habit can make it difficult for digesters to digest too much food. As a result, the body takes a long time to digest these foods.
• Pay attention to the portion of the meal. Another way to deal with stomach acid is to pay attention to the portion of your meal. Because eating large portions can trigger reflux. To avoid hunger, you should eat more often but in smaller portions.
• Chew food properly. Even though it looks trivial, this one method is important to note. Because this can help digestive enzymes process and digest food more easily, thereby reducing the risk of stomach acid rising or worsening the symptoms of GERD that you are experiencing.
• Avoid drinking too much water when eating.Drinking too much water between meals can dilute the acid in your stomach and make the food you eat more difficult to digest.

Food choices for increased stomach acid are good for consumption

Acid in the stomach is prone to rise after eating. So, in addition to scheduling more regular meals, you also need to be more stringent in selecting what you eat every day to deal with stomach acid. The wrong choice of food can actually make stomach acid rise.

Here are some foods for stomach acid that are good to eat if you have acid reflux:

• Banana.Bananas are very low in acidity with a pH level of around 4.5 to 5.2. This allows it to neutralize acid in the stomach and help relieve symptoms. Apart from bananas, other no citrus fruits such as melons, apples, papayas, and pears are also the best choices as food for stomach acid.
• Oatmeal. Oatmeal (oatmeal porridge) contains whole grains which are rich in fiber so that it can help absorb acid in the stomach so it can prevent stomach contents from rising back up. Other high-fiber food options besides oatmeal are whole wheat bread and rice. whole grains.
• Green vegetable. Green vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, celery, cabbage, spinach, and others are food choices for the best stomach acid. This is because these vegetables are low in acid which makes them good for consumption to relieve reflux symptoms that you are experiencing.
• Ginger. Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties that are great for treating acid reflux and other digestive problems. You can add grated ginger or ginger slices to your smoothies, teas, or cooking.
• Egg whites. Boiled egg whites are a great choice as a food for stomach acid. But remember, avoid egg yolks because they contain high fat which can actually worsen your condition who is sick with stomach acid.
• Lean meat. Lean meat is the best choice as a food for stomach acid. Eat skinless chicken breast and lean red meat by steaming, grilling, or grilling. Avoid processing these types of foods by frying them as oil can worsen reflux symptoms.
• Aloe vera. Aloe vera plant is known as a natural healer and also treatment of indigestion, including for GERD.

Foods to avoid if stomach acid rises

As mentioned above, paying attention to food intake is an important factor in dealing with increased stomach acid. If you have acid reflux, there are several foods and drinks that should be avoided or reduced, namely:

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the foods for stomach acid that should be avoided. This is because chocolate can trigger acid reflux by causing the sphincter muscles to relax because they contain caffeine and another stimulant, theobromine. Not only that, chocolate also contains high fat.

2. Soda

In addition to making the stomach bloated, soda and carbonated drinks can trigger stomach acid to rise. Even soda that also contains caffeine can make acidic conditions in the stomach worse. Well, that is why, soda is one of the foods for stomach acid that should be avoided if you don't want to experience nausea, heartburn, and heartburn.

3. Fried foods

Other foods for stomach acid that should be avoided are fried foods. Yes, fried foods are known to trigger reflux as well. These foods are associated with gastric heat. Symptoms that sufferers may experience are chest pain. In addition, fried foods are also known to trigger cholesterol.

4. Alcohol

Just like carbonated drinks, beer, wine, and other liquor can contribute to reflux. Alcohol is believed to relax the valve under the esophagus (attached to the stomach) which can cause reflux.

5. High fat milk

Basically, all foods that are high in fat can cause reflux. Either milk, butter, or cheese has a fat content that is more or less the same. So, if you are a fan of cheese and butter, but have acid reflux, you should avoid eating both types of food. To be safer, consume low-fat versions of dairy products.

6. Meat is high in fat

If you have GERD, you should avoid meat foods high in fat. High-fat meats take a long time for the body to digest, which can increase the production of excess acid. An alternative that you can do is remove fat from meat, and eat meat only once a week.

7. Caffeine

You have read above that caffeine can increase reflux. Caffeine is not only found in coffee, but also in tea. However, you can consume herbal teas such as chamomile because herbal teas usually do not contain caffeine.

8. Tomatoes

If you have a stomach problem, you should avoid tomatoes. This fruit contains citric and malic acid which can increase acid in the stomach. When you eat too many tomatoes, the acids can flow into your esophagus. There is no other alternative, because even when you serve tomatoes by roasting them, this does not reduce the acid.

9. Citrus fruit

Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are fruits that are included in citrus. According to the research contained in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology , that limiting the intake of acidic foods can relieve reflux symptoms due to acid that has risen to the throat, such as coughing and hoarseness.

10. Onions

According to the Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, people who have GERD and eat onions experience a rapid drop in gastric pH. The lower the pH, the higher the acid. It can also cause belching and nausea.

Know the various types of acid reflux drugs

There are two types of stomach acid drugs, namely over-the-counter drugs and drugs that require a special prescription from a doctor. Even so, for both prescription and non-prescription drugs, you must first consult with your doctor to get the best stomach acid medicine according to your condition. Avoid taking these medicines outside of the directions given.

OTC acid reflux drugs

You can usually find these types of drugs easily at pharmacies, drugstores, or even in food stalls without having to redeem a doctor's prescription. In general, there are three types of over-the-counter drugs that treat stomach acid, including:

• Antacids.Some antacids contain simethicone, which is an ingredient that helps get rid of excess gas in the body. Examples of antacid drugs are Mylanta®, Malox®, Rolaids®, Gaviscon®, Gelusil®, and Tums®.
• H-2 receptor blockers.Histamine-2 (H-2) receptor blockers are used to reduce acid production in the stomach. Examples of this type of drug are cimetidine (Tagamet®), nizatidine (Axid AR®), ranitidine (Zantac®), and famotidine (Pepcid®). The effects of H2 receptor blockers are not as fast as antacids but they can reduce acid production in the stomach for up to 12 hours.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the over-the-counter drugs that are stronger against stomach acid than antacids and H2 receptor blockers. Examples of this type of drug are omeprazole (Prilosec®) and lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR®).

Remember, always read the instructions for using stomach acid medication that are listed on the product information label. Read carefully how many doses you need and what interactions may occur from using the drug. If your condition does not change after two weeks of taking over-the-counter drugs, consult a doctor immediately.

Acid reflux drugs that need a doctor's prescription

If your condition doesn't improve with over-the-counter drugs, your doctor may prescribe a more potent medication to treat your stomach acid. Acid reflux drugs from doctors are usually not much different from drugs sold in the market, except for drugs that require a higher dose. Examples of stomach acid drugs that require a doctor's prescription are as follows:

• H-2 receptor blockers by prescription. Prescription H-2 receptor blockers can generally relieve heartburn and treat reflux. Examples of these drugs are famotidine (Pepcid®), nizatidine (Axid®), cimetidine (Tagamet HB200®), and ranitidine (Zantac®).
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) by prescription.This medicine is best taken one hour before meals. Examples of proton pump inhibitors that need a doctor's prescription are esomeprazole (Nexium®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid®), pantoprazole (Protonix®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®), and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®).
• 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 bacoflen can cause fatigue or nausea.

If you still have acid reflux even though you have taken the treatment mentioned above, a surgical procedure will likely be considered and recommended by your doctor. This surgical procedure will usually restore function of the lower esophageal sphincter muscles. Even so, the operation still cannot restore its normal function.

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