Acidity is a
general term which usually refers to regurgitation of acid or partly digested
food from the stomach into the food pipe (oesophagus) or mouth. It happens when
stomach acid flows back up into the food pipe. The stomach contains
hydrochloric acid, a strong acid that helps break down food and protect against
pathogens such as bacteria. The lining of the stomach is specially adapted to
protect it from the powerful acid, but the oesophagus is not protected. A
person may feel a soreness which is due to fermentation of food in the stomach
or over secretion of acid. Heartburn describes a burning sensation behind the
breastbone or sternum.
It is very
important to get diagnosed before getting serious issues. Some of the important
symptoms are that there can be burning in the chest after having food and the
patient may feel sour eructation and belching. Sometimes, we get a feeling that
food is getting stuck even after swallowing. Many people doesn’t care even when
they feel such discomforts. This makes the problem worse and complicated. Apart
from the internal reasons, there are so many external reasons too that can
cause acidity or heartburn. Stress and irregular eating habits are two
important reasons which can be the causes for acidity. Overeating, obesity,
alcohol and cigarette smoking are some issues related to our lifestyle which
can be dangerous reasons for heartburn. Sometimes, medication too can cause
issues. Certain drugs like aspirin, antibiotics etc. can sometimes be the core
reason for acidity. Too much of bending, or simply lying down or excessive
physical exertion after eating is not good for health and this can create
digestion issues in the physical system. Some of the important food items that
can cause acidity or heartburn are tomatoes, citrus fruits, onion, coffee and
tea.
Acidity or
heartburn can be treated or controlled to a certain extend by following some
basic human activities. In this busy world, stress is one of the unavoidable
things in a person’s life. But this can be dangerous as it can be the root
cause for many of the serious disease conditions. You need to recognize the
signs of stress and identify its causes. At work, you should learn to avoid
long working hours and should learn to not accept unrealistic demands. You
should teach yourselves to set realistic goals and accept changes and
challenges optimistically. The principal characteristic you need to imbibe is
that you shouldn’t take the work stress back to home. Home should be a place
where you can relax and rely upon. Make yourselves comfortable at home and air
your grievances, share your problems with family and enjoy regular weekend
trips to relax your mind and body.
Exerting before
and after having food can affect the whole digestion process and thereby cause
many major as well as minor health issues. It is highly advisable to have a 20
minutes of leisure time before and after food intake. Always eat slowly and
chew each mouthful well. This helps to make the meals session enjoyable.
Planning and having meals at regular intervals and frequently at a balanced
quantity can reduce the chances of heartburn. There are some key habits which
should be avoided for a healthy lifestyle. Try to completely avoid drinking
water or any form of liquid immediately after meals. Even when we need to have
leisure time before and after food, it is not good to lie down immediately
after meals. For a wholesome health care, eat less spicy food, avoid fatty,
fried junk foods, and especially those that contain possible irritants such as
chemical food additives or hot spices. It is very crucial to avoid alcohol,
reduce the amount of coffee, tea etc and these should be completely avoided
during an attack. Smoking can seriously affect the stomach lining. It is better
to avoid painkillers or medicine which cause acidity. Drinking cold milk at the
time of heartburn can help in reducing the effect of the issue.
All the above
mentioned tips can be used when acidity is mild or not aggravated. Whenever you
feel that acidity or heartburn is getting severe or in an uneasy manner, you
should immediately consult a doctor. If discomfort around the chest region is
aggravated by exercise and gets better by rest, sudden health consultation
should be taken. If you experience any difficulty in swallowing, breathing,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain or black or bloody
stools due to heartburn, take opinion from the doctor and proper medication
should be taken. If acidity or heartburn occurs daily, that should be taken
into serious account and take necessary actions accordingly.
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