What Are The Signs of Acidity and Heartburn?

One major symptom of gastric reflux is heartburn which is caused by the acidity of the stomach. To experience this problem at some point in one’s life is considered ordinary, since it is the body’s natural reaction to a few failed mechanisms inside us. Although the name “heartburn” suggests a certain condition related to the heart, it is not in any way related to it.

When heartburn occurs, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The first common symptom of heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest. These chest pains are often mistaken as heart attacks which is where the condition got its name from. The pain may radiate towards the neck and the throat.

• Partially digested food along with gastric acids may flow back, far up the throat and into your mouth, causing irritation to the esophageal track.

• Ingestion will be very difficult due to the excessive build-up of acids in the stomach. As a result, you will also have difficulty breathing and may experience dryness in your throat.

• Acidity due to poor digestion will show symptoms such as salty or alkaline taste in the mouth which indicates gastric acids backing up to the throat. You may also feel like food is trapped within your chest bones. 

• There usually will be a feeling of discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen hours after taking in a large meal. This usually comes with recurrent release of gas.

• Other common symptoms are nausea, malaise, flatulence, and loss of appetite. It may also be accompanied by sour belching and an acrid taste in the mouth.

• There are cases where symptoms like constipation and indigestion occurs. You may also feel stiffness and a boiling sensation in the stomach and upper abdomen.

• Lack of desire to eat and drink or difficulty keeping food down may also happen along with the urge to frequently vomit.

All of these are common symptoms of acidity and heartburn. Causes of heartburn can come from a lot of factors. It can be from the type of food we eat. Usually foods that cause acidity are spicy foods and those high in fat. It can also be caused by high amounts of caffeine from beverages such as coffee and tea or carbonated products like soft drinks. These stimulate the production of gastric acids in the stomach which automatically leads to acid reflux. The stomach naturally produces acids to help digest the food that we eat. However, excessive acids can lead to irritation and heartburn.

During acid reflux, the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter that is supposed to prevent acids from flowing back up the track weakens, thus allowing gastric acids to leak.

Proper Diet for Heartburn and Hyperacidity

Modifying your diet is the ideal way to prevent and deal with heartburn. If you have an existing condition of hyperacidity, or if you are experiencing recurrent episodes of it lately, you should be able to cure it by targeting the major causes. Refrain from any food that may trigger acidity which in this case are those that stimulates production of gastric acids in your stomach. Below is a list of food types that must be avoided.

• Fruits that are not fully ripe and those with high levels of acidity such as citrus fruits are the first to be avoided. You’ll know when a fruit is acidic when it’s sour like lemons and mangoes.
• Avoid too much spice on your food such as onion, pepper and garlic. We know that spicy foods give of a burning feeling and may irritate your stomach even more.
• Keep your diet caffeine-free by taking a break from drinking coffee or even tea. Stay away from carbonated drinks and alcohol.
• Foods with mustard, tomato sauce and lots of vinegar should also be taken out of your diet, along with fatty foods such chocolates.

Heartburn Treatment

When you know the cause, then the treatment will be a lot easier. While avoiding the foods mentioned above, you can also add another set of food to your diet that will help relieve the condition such as fruits including apples, watermelon and ripe bananas. These fruits stabilize and neutralize stomach acidity. Replace acidic beverages with drinks light drinks such as ginger juice.

If any of the natural method is not working, then the most recommended thing to do is to take medication or seek help from your physician. If the condition is recurrent, tell your doctor about it, so as to keep it from developing into a severe case.