Causes of Acidity

Almost every person in the world has experienced acidity problems. The reason is because the stomach produces acid which helps to digest the food by breaking it into tiny pieces. As soon as a person smells food or puts it in the mouth nerve cells from the brain “tell” the stomach to start making the acid.

Acidity or as they call it sometimes, hyperacidity, happens when there is too much acid and the stomach does not need it. Since the extra acid does not leave stomach with food the person feels burning right above the stomach area (below the breastbone). Acid regurgitation or burping with sour taste is another symptom of stomach acidity. It often results in heartburn too.

As a rule acidity does not symbolize some serious medical trouble. Very often it is caused by certain food people eat that “upsets” the stomach. Fatty and spicy kinds of food are harder to digest, so the stomach goes on a “strike”. Many people experience acidity problem once a year or a little more often.

In some cases people have acute stomach acidity attack. It is not a thing to worry about either and any antacid sold in many stores and pharmacies can solve this problem.

However, if the cases of hyperacidity happen often and simple over-the-counter antacid does not take it away, there is a reason to worry. Unfortunately, some people have to go to a doctor in order to treat the problem.

Here are a few serious cases that require doctor’s attention:

1. GERD or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. This is a chronic disease which provokes constant acidity. However, if usually goes away if the person changes the position, for example, lies down. Very often people with this problem have heartburn, but it does not mean there is a heart problem. The reason of the pain is the acid that goes to the esophagus area which includes places near heart.

2. Helicobacter Pylori. It has been discovered recently. Helicobater Pylori or H. Pylori is a bacterium that increases the production of the stomach acid which results in ulcers or even holes in the stomach if not treated. The bacteria appear after the person has already had gastric or duodenal ulcers provoked by smoking, stress or unhealthy diets.

3. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. Unfortunately, some people are born with hyperacidity. The amount of gastrin, hormone responsible for the production of gastric juices, is very high in their body. Being uncontrolled gastrin makes the stomach pump the acid even when it is not needed.

4. Hypercalcemia. Extra high level of calcium in the body might bring stomach acidity. It does not mean that everybody should be careful with the amount of calcium they intake and stop drinking milk. The people with hypercalcemia usually have metabolic disorders, parathyroid problems, renal failure or malignant tumors. All of these problems do not let calcium to absorb in the right manner and cause difficulties with taking the excess out of the body.