Hyperacidity

Hyperacidity, also known as acid dyspepsia is the condition of excreting more than the normal amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Some causes for hyperacidity are peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach cancer and certain types of diet that contains spicy food.

Hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia simply means increase of acidity in the stomach. The human stomach secretes hydrochloric acid which is necessary for the digestion of food. When the stomach contains an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid, then the condition is called as hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia. Sometimes, hyperacidity is confused for a simple bellyache. This is because people with hyperacidity usually generally get pains in their stomachs with similar symptoms as bellyaches. This confusion is more rampant in children who cannot differentiate between different kinds of stomach ailments. However, hyperacidity can be found out with the sour belching and aftertaste of the already eaten food in the mouth.

The prime medical factors of hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia are as follows:

• Stomach Ulcers: Ulcers in the stomach are one of the prime causes of hyperacidity. Once this is diagnosed, the treatment will be done by the surgical removal of the stomach ulcers.
• Acid Reflux Disease: Some people have a gastric disorder called as the acid reflux disease. In this condition, the acids of the stomach, i.e. gastric acids or hydrochloric acid, get refluxed up to the food pipe, which is biologically called as the esophagus. When this happens, it builds up the level of acidity in the stomach.
• Stomach Cancers: Stomach cancers can also cause hyperacidity as one of their symptoms. This is a very rare case, but the mortality rate is quite high. Hence, a hyperacidity that lasts more than two weeks must be immediately shown to the doctor and got checked for any cancer. A timely diagnosis can enable complete treatment of the disease.

Symptoms of Hyperacidity

Hyperacidity symptoms are observed a couple of hours after eating, when the food has been digested and still excess acids are left within the stomach. At this stage, the following symptoms are seen:

• A typical feeling of restlessness
• Feeling of nausea (wanting to throw up) and actual vomiting
• Sour belching with an aftertaste of the already-eaten food
• Stiffness in the stomach, which is called as atonic dyspepsia
• Lack of desire for any other type of food
• Indigestion
• Constipation

References

http://projects.icbse.com/chemistry-260