5 Best Ways to Overcome Gastric Acid Rise, Plus the Guide to Eat the Menu So It Does Not Often Recur
Gastric acid pain due to GERD is chronic and usually occurs at least more than twice per week and can recur at any time. Check out a full review of GERD including symptoms, causes and choices of the best stomach acid medication, along with ways to prevent and treat gastric acid in the future.
What causes gastric pain due to GERD?
The stomach is responsible for breaking down food that enters so that it can be absorbed by the body. Stomach acid is deliberately produced by the stomach to facilitate its work. However, when the amount of acid produced is too much, it can cause stomach problems, such as gastric acid reflux
Gastric acid reflux is the return of gastric acid or the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus. This acid backflow is actually a normal part of the movement of the digestive system, so gastric acid reflux cannot be called a disease.
However, if the stomach acid so often rises so as to cause a burning sensation in the chest and throat (heartburn), meaning that the stomach ring muscle (sphincter) which functions as an acid retaining valve so that it stays in the stomach is no longer functioning properly. Well, this condition then causes you to experience stomach acid pain.
Stomach pain is said to be GERD if it occurs at least more than twice per week. Generally this condition occurs after you eat certain foods that can trigger stomach acid to rise. GERD symptoms can be of short duration or can also occur during sleep.
In some cases, the cause of acid in the stomach may also increase due to pressure on the stomach during pregnancy, obesity, or having a stomach hernia syndrome. In addition, someone who consumes excessive amounts of alcohol, smokes, has diabetes, asthma, and connective tissue disease is also at high risk of developing this disease.
What are the symptoms of GERD?
When stomach acid rises, the tissue along the esophagus wall will be irritated by stomach acid. As a result, you will experience heartburn, which is a sensation of heat or pain in the chest that sometimes these symptoms spread to the esophagus. This condition usually occurs after eating and the symptoms will get worse at night.
GERD also usually shows symptoms, such as:
Mouth feels sour
Sore throat (sore)
The food feels up and blocks the esophagus
Acid in the back of the mouth
Nausea
Gag
Bloated
Trouble swallowing
Coughing or whining
Hoarseness
Wheezing; cough
Chest pain, especially when lying down at night
Hiccup
You should contact your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. In addition, you should tell your doctor if these symptoms occur frequently and get worse. Each person's body is different.
Can GERD be cured?
GERD is caused by a stomach ring (sphincter) muscle that is not functioning normally. There is no stomach acid medication that can make the muscles return to normal, but these drugs can help relieve symptoms and prevent them from recurring.
Various ways to deal with stomach acid that you should know
In addition to drugs, stomach pain can actually be easily overcome through a healthier and more balanced food arrangement.
Some dietary rules that you need to consider to help deal with recurring stomach acid are:
Eat more regularly. One of the causes of acid increase in the stomach is irregular eating patterns. Therefore, try to have the same meal every day. In addition, you are also advised not to eat two hours before going to bed because it can trigger acid to go up your throat during sleep.
Avoid snacking between meals. This one habit can make it difficult for digestion to digest too much food. As a result, the body needs quite a long time to digest the food.
Pay attention to the portion of the meal. Another way to deal with stomach acid is to pay attention to food portions. The reason is eating large portions can trigger reflux. To avoid hunger, you should eat more often but in smaller portions.
Chew food properly. Although it looks trivial, this one is important to note. The reason is this can help digestive enzymes process and digest food more easily thereby reducing the risk of gastric acid rising or worsening the symptoms of GERD you experience.
Avoid drinking too much water when eating. Drinking too much water in the middle of the meal can melt the acid in the stomach and make the food you consume more difficult to digest.
Food choices for good stomach acid consumed
Acid in the stomach is susceptible to rise after after eating. So, in addition to scheduling more regular meals, you also need to be more strict in selecting what you eat every day to deal with stomach acid. One choose food can actually make stomach acid rise.
Here are some foods for stomach acid that are good to consume if you are sick with stomach acid:
Banana. Bananas have a low acidity with a pH level of around 4.5 to 5.2. This makes it able to neutralize acid in the stomach and help relieve symptoms. Besides bananas, no other citrus fruits such as melons, apples, papayas and pears are also the best choices for food for stomach acid.
Oatmeal. Oatmeal (oatmeal porridge) contains whole grains that are rich in fiber so that it can help absorb acid in the stomach so that it can prevent stomach contents from rising again. Other high-fiber food choices besides oatmeal are whole wheat bread and whole-grain rice.
Green vegetable. Green vegetables like broccoli, green beans, celery, cabbage, spinach, etc. are the best food choices for stomach acid. This is because these vegetables are low in acid so that they are good for consumption to relieve the symptoms of reflux that you are experiencing.
Ginger. Ginger has good natural anti-inflammatory properties as a treatment for stomach acid pain and other digestive problems. You can add grated ginger or sliced ginger to a smoothie, tea, or your cooking.
Egg whites. Boiled egg white is a good choice as a food for stomach acid. But remember, avoid egg yolks because they contain high fat which can actually aggravate your condition which is sick stomach acid.
Lean meat. Lean meat is the best choice as a food for stomach acid. Eat skinless chicken breast and lean red meat by steaming, roasting or baking. Avoid processing this type of food by frying because oil can worsen the symptoms of reflux.
Aloe vera. The aloe vera plant is known as a natural cure and also treats digestive disorders, including those for GERD.
Foods to avoid if you have stomach acid
As already mentioned above, paying attention to food intake is an important factor to deal with rising stomach acid. If you have stomach acid, there are some foods and drinks that should be avoided or reduced, namely:
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the foods for stomach acid that must be avoided. This is because chocolate can trigger an increase in stomach acid by causing the sphincter muscle to relax because it contains caffeine and another stimulant, theobromine. Not only that, chocolate also contains high fat.
2. Soda
Besides making flatulence, soda and carbonated drinks can trigger stomach acid to rise. Even soda which also contains caffeine can make acidic conditions in the stomach worse. Well, that is why, soda is one of the foods for stomach acid that must be avoided if you do not want to experience nausea, stomach heat, and heartburn.
3. Fried foods
Other stomach acid foods that should be avoided are fried foods. Yes, fried foods are also known to trigger reflux. This food is associated with stomach heat. Symptoms that may be experienced by sufferers are chest pain.
4. Alcohol
Just like soft drinks, beer, wine, and other liquors can contribute to cause reflux. Alcohol is believed to relax the valve under the esophagus (fused with the stomach) which can cause reflux.
5. High fat milk
Basically, all high-fat foods can cause reflux. Both milk, butter, or cheese have more or less the same fat content. So, if you are a fan of cheese and butter, but stomach acid pain, you should avoid eating both types of food. For safer consumption of low-fat dairy products.
6. High-fat meat
If you have GERD, you should avoid high-fat meat foods. High-fat meat takes a long time for the body to digest so it can increase excessive acid production. The alternative you can do is to remove fat from meat, and eat meat only once a week.
7. Caffeine
You have read above that caffeine can increase reflux. However, you can consume herbal teas like chamomile because herbal teas usually do not contain caffeine.
8. Tomatoes
If your stomach has a problem, you should avoid tomatoes. This fruit contains citric and malic acids which can increase acidity in the stomach. When you eat too much tomato, the acid can flow into your esophagus. There is no other alternative, because even if you serve tomatoes by baking them, this does not reduce the acid.
9. Citrus fruit
Oranges, lemons, lime, and grapefruit are fruits that are included in the citrus. According to research published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, that limiting intake of acidic foods can relieve symptoms of acid reflux that go up to the throat, such as coughing and hoarseness.
10. Onion
According to the Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, people who have GERD and eat onions experience a rapid decrease in gastric pH. The lower the pH, the higher the acid will be. This can also cause belching and nausea.
Get to know various types of stomach acid drugs
Gastric acid medicine itself consists of two types, namely drugs without a prescription and drugs that require a special prescription from a doctor. Even so, both prescription and non-prescription drugs, you should consult with your doctor to get the best stomach acid medicine according to your condition. Avoid taking these medicines outside of the recommendations given.
Over-the-counter stomach acid medication
These types of medicines can usually be found easily at a pharmacy, drugstore, or even at a food stall without having to redeem a doctor's prescription. In general, there are three types of over-the-counter medicines that treat stomach acid, including:
Antacids. Some antacids contain simethicone, which is an ingredient that helps get rid of excess gas in the body. Examples of antacid drugs are Mylanta®, Malox®, Rolaids®, Gaviscon®, Gelusil®, and Tums®.
H-2 receptor blockers. Histamine-2 (H-2) receptor blockers are used to reduce acid production in the stomach. Examples of these types of drugs are cimetidine (Tagamet®), nizatidine (Axid AR®), ranitidine (Zantac®), and famotidine (Pepcid®). The effect of H2 receptor blockers is not as fast as antacids but this drug can reduce stomach acid production by up to 12 hours.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the over-the-counter drugs that are stronger in treating stomach acid than antacids and H2 receptor blockers. Examples of this type of drug are omeprazole (Prilosec®) and lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR®).
Remember, always read the instructions for using stomach acid medications that are listed on the product information label. Read carefully how many doses you need and any interactions that may occur from the use of these drugs. If your condition does not change after two weeks of taking over-the-counter medicines, check with your doctor immediately.
Gastric medication that needs a doctor's prescription
If your condition does not improve with over-the-counter medicines, your doctor may prescribe a more effective drug to treat your stomach acid. Gastric acid medicines from doctors are usually not much different from drugs sold in the market, except drugs that require higher doses. Examples of stomach acid drugs that require a doctor's prescription are as follows:
H-2 receptor blockers by prescription. H-2 receptor blockers that use prescriptions generally can relieve heartburn and treat reflux. Examples of these drugs are famotidine (Pepcid®), nizatidine (Axid®), cimetidine (Tagamet HB200®), and ranitidine (Zantac®).
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) by prescription. This medicine is best taken one hour before eating. Examples of proton pump inhibitors that need a doctor's prescription are esomeprazole (Nexium®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid®), pantoprazole (Protonix®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®), and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®).
Lower esophageal sphincter booster medication. Baclofen (Lioresal®) is a muscle stretcher and antispastic drug used to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter. However, bacoflen side effects can cause fatigue or nausea.
If you still have stomach acid pain despite treatment as mentioned above, the surgical procedure may be considered and recommended by a doctor. This surgical procedure will usually restore the function of the lower esophageal sphincter muscles. Even so, the operation still cannot restore its function to normal.
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