SYMPTOMS
- Heartburn
- Sour belching
- Vomiting
- Chest burn
- Water brash
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Anorexia
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR HYPERACIDITY DISEASE?
- Facing difficulty/pain in swallowing especially with solid foods/pills.
- Heartburn symptoms - more/severe/frequent
- Heartburn is causing to have nausea/vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss accompanied by heartburn
- Chronic cough, choking sensation/sense of a lump in throat.
- OTC (Over The Counter)- antacid medications for more than two weeks.
- Extreme stomach pain
- Discomfort interferes with lifestyle/daily activities.
- Chest pain accompanied by pain in the neck,jaw, arms, legs, shortness of breath, weakness, irregular use, sweating.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS-
- It includes smoking ,eating large and heavy meals specially during bedtime.
- Obesity, overweight.
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Delayed stomach emptying
- Heavy meal
- After meal lying back/bending over at waist.
- Snacking close to bedtime
- Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, onions, spicy foods/fatty foods.
- Drinking certain beverages such as alcohol/carbonated drinks/coffee/tea.
- Smoking
- Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers/ blood pressure medications.
PREVENTION-
- Have small frequent meals (keeps stomach from stretching & pushing food & acid upward)
- Avoid trigger foods (chocolate, citrus fruits, peppermint, tomato products/fried, fatty or spicy foods, garlic and onions)
- Cut back on alcohol/tea/coffee
- Don’t eat before bedtime.
- Prop up the head of your bed 6 to10 inches(helps gravity keep in stomach away from oesophagus)
- Stop making delayed stomach emptying.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol intake.
DIAGNOSIS
- Barium esophagram
- Eosophageal manometry
- PH monitoring
- Endoscopy
- A biopsy
- PPI trial
GENERAL TIPS
- Eat meals at-least 2 to 3 hours before lying down, this will give food time to digest and get out of stomach
- Don’t overeat
- Eat slowly
- Stop smoking
- Avoid alcohol
- Time your meals
- Drink more water
- Beat stress by yoga, meditation & cultivating some hobbies.
HOME REMEDIES
- Chew 2-3 tulsi leaves regularly.
- Infusion of - coriander seeds(dhanyak)+sugar = twice a day
- Water obtained from green fruit of coconut 100-150 ml to be taken twice a day
- Powder of amla (3-6 gm) two times in a day with water.
- Powder of saunf + sugar (twice a day).
- Chewing fennel seeds after a food.
- Use of buttermilk
- Jaggery after meal
- Coconut water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cumin seeds(jeera) use- Ayurvedic medicine recommends cumin seeds.
WHAT TO AVOID?
- Avoid heavy- spicy- sour-hot-too-much oily food.
- Excessive/scanty too early or too late.
- Avoid anxiety, worry, anger, etc.
- Avoid alcohol and acidic foods.
- Avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs.
- Avoid drinking of water- before meal -after meal- night after heavy meal.
- Don’t take anything in b/w meals except liquids.
- Suppression of the natural urges.
WHAT TO EAT?
- Light food/coconut water/articles having cooling properties.
- Vegetables like- (white pumpkin-bitter gourd-leafy vegetables except methi.)
- Wheat- old rice- barley-green gram- sugar candy-cucumber.
- Fruits like gooseberry/dry grapes/black grapes/sweet lime/pomegranate/ fig/dry fig to be included in diet.
- Take adequate amount of Fluids like -pomegranate juice/lemon juice/amla juice/sweet-lime juice/ medicated water with ushir(wala) or coriander seed/ warm water.
- Dadimpak(sweet preparation made of pomegranate)
- Moramla( jam made from amla)
- Gulkand with milk
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -
- Having less and frequent meals.
- Regular walking and other physical activities.
- Wear loose clothes- To avoid pressure on the abdomen.
- Reduce the intake of food which may trigger he symptoms of acidity like citrus food, raw onions, milk, salt, chocolates, tea, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, and other tobacco products.
- Reduce / avoid the consumption of spicy / deep fried food items.
- Gastric ulcers
- Cancer
- Severe pain in the chest or abdomen fora long duration.
- Difficulties/pain in swallowing the food.
- Other problems related to the digestive system which leads to constipation.
- Indigestion