Acidity is something that all of us have experienced, just that some of us would have not realised that it was in fact acidity. It’s an uncomfortable burning sensation that we feel between our stomach and our throat. Now you’re getting a small idea of what I’m talking about, don’t you?
So, What Is Acidity Really?
Acidity is the basic term for a condition known as acid reflux. It’s caused due to the backward flow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus. The burning sensation that is caused because of this backward flow of acid is called heartburn.
Symptoms Of Acidity
Acidity is usually accompanied by
- Cough
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Bloating
- Hiccups
- Feeling sick
These symptoms usually get worse after meals or when you’re bending or lying down.
However, acidity is something that is not chronic. On the other hand, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a type of acid reflux that is both severe and chronic in nature. People having GERD are at the risk of experiencing other serious health conditions as well.
What Are The Causes Of Acidity?
Acidity can be caused by many things. Some of the biggest reasons why acidity is caused is because of:
Being Overweight
As you put on more weight, your abdomen also gets bigger. Your abdomen gets bigger because the fat around the muscles of the abdomen increases and this fat starts putting pressure on the stomach. As the pressure exerted by this fat increases it responds by putting the acidic contents of the stomach upwards which leads to acidity.
Pregnancy
There is more than one reason why acidity is triggered in pregnant women. The esophageal sphincter is like a band at the top of the stomach which remains tight and makes sure that the digested and semi-digested food does not go upwards. However, for pregnant women, there are hormones released which makes the band loose and cause food acids to travel back up the esophagus.
Smoking
The nicotine present in cigarettes can also loosen the esophageal sphincter which causes the partially digested food and digested food items to travel back up into the esophagus which therefore causes the individual to experience acidity.
Stress Or Anxiety
An acid reflux is a common symptom of panic attacks and stress in general. There’s not really enough evidence to back this up but many researchers claim that extreme stress could cause one’s brain to hypersensitive it’s pain receptors. This makes your body more receptive to it’s acid levels and could result in acid reflux.
Considering these are the reasons that cause acidity, making a few lifestyle changes can definitely reduce the chances of acid reflux. Keeping this in mind, eat healthy and follow a good exercise routine that keeps your body healthy and you should be fine.
