Excess stomach acid and things to know

This article is expertly consulted by MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Stomach acid plays an important role in digestive function. Stomach acid imbalance, specifically excess stomach acid can lead to many dangerous diseases such as stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, ... if not detected and treated early.

The main component of stomach acid is hydrochloric acid (chemical formula: HCl). The concentration of HCl in the stomach of a healthy person ranges from 0.0001 to 0.001 mol/l, the pH is about 3 - 4.
Stomach acid plays an important role in the digestive system. They are:
Promote food digestion and gastric emptying; Stimulates the small intestine and pancreas to produce digestive enzymes to break down fats, proteins,...; Kill harmful bacteria from the outside entering the stomach, avoiding adverse effects on the digestive system; Plays an important role in the opening and closing of the atrial and pyloric valves. Stomach acid needs to be balanced to stabilize the digestive process in the stomach. The lack or excess of stomach acid negatively affects the digestive function of the stomach in particular and health in general.

2.1 What is excess stomach acid? When the concentration of stomach acid exceeds 0.001 mol/l and the pH is below 3.5, it will lead to excess stomach acid. This is a common condition that can negatively affect the stomach, leading to many dangerous diseases.

2.2 Causes of excess stomach acid Abuse of alcohol, beer: Alcohol inhibits the formation of mucus to protect the gastric mucosa, and at the same time stimulates the secretion of more gastric acid, so it is easy to damage the gastric mucosa. People who drink too much alcohol often have high levels of stomach acid, causing severe damage at the inflammation, which can cause ulcers, stomach perforation, even lead to stomach cancer; Eating irregularly: Eating at the wrong time, skipping meals, regularly eating greasy foods is also the cause of increased gastric acid secretion leading to excess stomach acid; Nervous stress: Causes the stomach to contract, secrete a lot of acid, leading to excess stomach acid, stomach pain; Helicobacter Pylori: The existence of Helicobacter Pylori bacteria in the stomach increases acid secretion, causing many diseases in the stomach; Smoking: Nicotine in cigarettes can destroy beneficial bacteria in the stomach, creating a favorable environment for harmful bacteria to grow, especially Helicobacter Pylori bacteria, which causes increased secretion of stomach acid; Lack of sleep: Staying up too late, not getting enough sleep is the cause of increased stomach acid secretion.

2.3 Symptoms of excess stomach acid Epigastric pain and burning; Flatulence, heartburn, sour mouth, bad breath; Diarrhea or constipation, persistent dark urine; Dry skin, many pimples; Frequent fatigue, insomnia; Nausea, difficulty concentrating and nervous tension.

Excess stomach acid is a dangerous condition. The reason is because the right amount of acid will help digest food, but if it is too much, it will destroy and erode the stomach wall and organs in the digestive system. Increasingly, acid will hurt more deeply in the gastric mucosa, causing diseases such as:
Stomach pain: Excess stomach acid damages the mucosa, causing ulcers on the stomach lining, causing bleeding. show stomach pain; Gastroesophageal reflux: Excess stomach acid can back up into the esophagus, damaging this organ; Gastric ulcers: The long-term gastritis will be attacked by excess acid, causing ulcers on the stomach lining; Stomach bleeding: Excess acid in contact with ulcers can cause stomach bleeding; Gastric perforation and gastric cancer: The most serious complications of the disease. In addition, excess stomach acid also causes corrosion of the body, making the body lose resistance, susceptible to chronic diseases such as gout, osteoporosis, cancer, kidney stones, obesity, liver and bile diseases, etc. ..

4.1 Using drugs to reduce gastric acid secretion The drugs that reduce gastric acid secretion, reduce the bad effect of acid on the gastric mucosa are commonly used today are ranitidine, omeprazol, cimetidine, lansoprazol,... drugs that help neutralize excess acid and increase pH include alusi, maalox, gastropulgite,...
When the drug is put into the body, the active ingredients in the drug will dissolve in the digestive organs and enter the bloodstream . They can cause some side effects such as allergies, headaches, nausea, ... Therefore, patients should pay attention not to arbitrarily use drugs to reduce stomach acid, but need to take drugs as prescribed by the doctor. specialist to avoid possible side effects.

4.2 Maintain healthy living and eating habits Eat dinner on time, preferably 3-4 hours before going to bed; Do not eat too much before going to bed because this will put pressure on the stomach to work a lot; Avoid eating sour, spicy foods such as: chili, vinegar, pickles, ... to avoid erosion of the stomach; Divide meals during the day, eat in an appropriate amount; Eat slowly, chew thoroughly; Stay away from stimulant drinks such as alcohol or carbonated drinks; Quit smoking; Get enough sleep, avoid staying up late; Drink a glass of filtered water every morning to clean the intestines, eliminate harmful substances from the body; Avoid stress, keep your mind relaxed and optimistic. 4.3 Use foods that help reduce stomach acid There are some healthy foods that do not stimulate the production of stomach acid, reduce inflammation of the esophagus and stomach, and provide enough nutrients for the body. The foods can be mentioned as:
Green leafy vegetables: Kale, spinach contain many antioxidants and plant fiber which is good for the digestive system; Artichoke : Helps support digestion; Bell peppers: Rich in vitamin C, strengthen the body's resistance, fight against infectious agents; Garlic: The active ingredient allicin in garlic has the ability to kill bacteria and reduce the formation of acids. So, to reduce stomach acid, the patient can chew 2-3 cloves of garlic per meal;

Whole grains: Millet, oatmeal, brown rice, flaxseed, ... have a lot of fiber, support very good digestion; Banana: Being alkaline, helps to neutralize stomach acid. Every day, each person should eat 1-2 ripe bananas because it is very beneficial for the digestive system and general health; Watermelon: Eating a few slices of watermelon or drinking 1 glass of watermelon juice a day will help reduce stomach acid secretion, prevent heartburn, reflux; Vegetable oils: Including flaxseed, canola, soybean, sunflower, ... They are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6, which help fight inflammation, neutralize acids and create a protective barrier for the stomach lining. ; Other foods: Salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna, poultry, almonds, walnuts, zucchini, apples, guava,...

4.4 Some tips to reduce stomach acid with natural ingredients Ginger root: Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, relieves pain, neutralizes stomach acid, improves reflux, indigestion caused by excess acid. To cure excess stomach acid, patients should eat 2-3 slices of fresh ginger per day or drink ginger tea. Turmeric: Turmeric contains a lot of curcumin, which helps neutralize stomach acid, protects cells in the stomach from corrosion, and prevents ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux. To reduce stomach acid, patients should mix 120g of turmeric powder with 60g of honey, make small pellets the size of a grain of corn, take 3 tablets each time, 3 times a day and use it for at least 10 consecutive days; Honey: contains high levels of vitamins C, E and minerals calcium, zinc, and potassium that balance the pH in the stomach, reduce acid production and prevent the harmful effects of excess stomach acid. To reduce stomach acid with honey, patients should drink 1 teaspoon of honey in the morning and evening 15 minutes before eating or add 2 teaspoons of honey to chamomile tea, drink 3 small cups per day. Stomach acid helps digest food, allowing the body to absorb the nutrients it needs. However, if there is an excess of stomach acid, it will cause health problems. Therefore, each person needs to know how to neutralize stomach acid by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.