What Can Cause Too Much Stomach Acid

Overeating And Back Pain

Dumping large amounts of food in your stomach puts enormous strain on the digestion.

The tell-tale signs of digestive distress as a result of overeating are stomach aches, bloating and indigestion.

As the stomach bloats and expands it puts stress on the spine and back muscles causing discomfort and pain.

But you can easily remedy the problem with a simple lifestyle change.

Rather than sitting down to 3 heavy meals a day or binge eating at the down town all you can eat buffet…

You can still eat as much as by eating smaller quantities frequently throughout the day.

Your digestion will thank you for it as its better able to cope with smaller quantities of food and liquid.

Fluids Simply Do 2 Things:

Theoretically speaking, drinking with a meal may impair optimal digestion. Drinking between meals helps you meet your fluid needs without potentially impacting the digestive process.

What Are My Options If These Treatments Don’t Work

If a person continues to have heartburn, a health care professional may recommend adding a drug such as metoclopramide . This drug empties food and acid quickly from the stomach so less can back up into the esophagus. Reglan also helps tighten the lower esophageal sphincter.

If a person still have symptoms, a health care professional will then recommend one of the drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Examples of these drugs are omeprazole , lansoprazole , esomeprazole , rabeprazole , and pantoprazole . These tablets prevent the stomach from secreting acid. They are very effective and are typically taken only once a day. These drugs usually are prescribed if other drugs have not helped. They may have to be used indefinitely.

Read Also: Can Stomach Cancer Be Treated

Castle Estate Take Me Away

If capturing another century versus a decade is your thing, and you always felt you would be suited for the royal treatment, then this laser cut castle doll house is your thing. I couldnt find the kit for sale, but it might be possible to find a video with the step-by-step laser saw demonstration. One can dream and wish upon a star I suppose!

Treatments For Acid Reflux

Surgery is usually reserved for very severe cases of valve dysfunction if GERD doesnt respond to treatment or lifestyle changes. However, making some changes to your lifestyle can help to effectively reduce or prevent the symptoms of acid reflux.

FACTPPIs can change the composition of the gut microbiota which can lead to a less healthy microbiome.

Don’t Miss: Why Does My Stomach Bloat After I Eat Anything

A Pharmacist Can Help With Heartburn And Acid Reflux

Speak to a pharmacist for advice if you keep getting heartburn.

They can recommend medicines called antacids that can help ease your symptoms.

It’s best to take these with food or soon after eating, as this is when you’re most likely to get heartburn. They may also work for longer if taken with food.

What Is The Treatment For Heartburn

The health care professional will recommend treating heartburn in a stepwise fashion. For mild or occasional symptoms, simple lifestyle modifications may be enough. The next step is nonprescription antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or Rolaids. Other treatments include acid blockers and even surgery. In most cases, one or more of these treatments provide relief from heartburn and prevent it from turning into a more serious disease.

I take nonprescription antacids for heartburn, but they don’t seem to help.

Nonprescription antacids are only part of the treatment for heartburn. They can work very well, but these antacids alone usually can’t stop heartburn. A health care professional will probably recommend that the patient make lifestyle changes in addition to other treatments.

What kind of lifestyle changes and remedies can I make to reduce heartburn?

Try any or all of the following:

Will these changes stop the heartburn?

They may. If they don’t, adding a nonprescription antacid can be helpful.

How do antacids work?

What if lifestyle changes and antacids don’t work?

If a person still has symptoms after lifestyle modifications and antacids, a health care professional probably will prescribe a stronger drug. The usual choice is one of the histamine-2 blockers, or acid blockers. These drugs block the biochemical process that creates acid in the stomach.

What are acid blockers?

Don’t Miss: How To Test For Stomach Cancer

Is There Surgery To Treat Gerd

GERD is usually controlled with medications and lifestyle changes . If these dont work, or if you cant take medications for an extended period, surgery may be a solution.

• Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is the standard surgical treatment. Its a minimally invasive procedure that fixes your acid reflux by creating a new valve mechanism at the bottom of your esophagus. The surgeon wraps the upper part of the stomach around the lower portion of the esophagus. This reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter so food wont reflux back into the esophagus.
• LINX deviceimplantation is another minimally invasive surgery. A LINX device is a ring of tiny magnets that are strong enough to keep the junction between the stomach and esophagus closed to refluxing acid but weak enough to allow food to pass through.

How Is Indigestion Diagnosed

Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order tests to determine the cause of indigestion. Those tests can include blood work, urine/stool tests, or an X-ray or ultrasound. Sometimes your doctor may perform an upper endoscopy to see inside your stomach. Your doctor will insert a thin tube with a camera on the end into your esophagus. This will be done after youre given medicines to go to sleep.

Don’t Miss: What Helps Relieve Stomach Bloating

Foods That Worsen Acid Reflux

Nutrition Facts advises that foods higher in fat are the biggest contributors to acid reflux. This is because as fatty foods are consumed, the esophageal sphincter connected to the stomach loosens and relaxes, which means more acid can pass through.

Eggs and meat have also been shown to contribute to acid reflux, as Nutrition Facts informs that meat eaters are twice as likely to present esophageal inflammation when compared to those on a vegetarian diet.

Antioxidant-rich foods, such as red-orange fruits and green vegetables, have been shown to be the most effective in reducing acid reflux.

What Kinds Of Complications Are Caused By Frequent Heartburn

• Excess stomach acid in the esophagus can cause ulcers, damage to the inner layers of the esophageal wall, and narrowing .
• Very rarely, the esophagus may bleed or tear completely because it is so damaged. In severe cases, a person may vomit blood or have small amounts of blood in bowel movements, found only on testing the stool.
• Regurgitated stomach acid can damage the respiratory tract, causing asthma, hoarseness, chronic cough, sore throat, or tooth damage . A person may feel as if he or she has a lump in the throat.
• If the acid exposure continues for long periods of time, the esophagus becomes thick and damaged. A person may then have difficulty swallowing and food becomes stuck.

You May Like: What Can Cause Sharp Stomach Pain

Symptoms Of An Acidic Body

Symptoms of an acidic body are typically caused by an underlying medical condition. According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, there are two types of acidosis that cause symptoms: respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis. Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs are unable to remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces, which makes the blood too acidic. Some causes of respiratory acidosis include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , severe obesity and sleep apnea.

If you are experiencing symptoms of irritation due to acidic sweat, acidic tears, dry skin or itchy hives, it is likely that you have metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis occurs when the kidneys do not remove enough acid from the body. Exercising intensely, alcohol use, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and severe dehydration are all causes of metabolic acidosis.

Foods And Acid Reflux

It is normal that any type of food will cause more stomach acid to be produced. However, there are some foods that can increase the flow of gastric juices and aggravate symptoms of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease .

For people who dont have symptoms of heartburn or GERD, these foods probably wont increase stomach acid levels too high. This is because acid reflux is generally caused by weakness of the muscle that stops stomach acid escaping back up the esophagus. In cases of heartburn and ulcers, doctors try to neutralize the acid or reduce the amount of gastric acid the stomach produces.

You May Like: How To Fix Loose Stomach Skin

Too Much Gastrin Hormone Secretion

Excessive amounts of gastric acid in your stomach could be due to a hormonal imbalance where too much gastrin is produced.

Gastrin is a key hormone that controls the release of stomach acid. Having too much gastrin can cause hyperchlorhydria.11

The journal Gastroenterology Report says that one of the causes of too much gastrin secretion is the use of a common medication such as proton pump inhibitors. These drugs are used to reduce excess stomach acid. In some cases, certain digestive syndromes can cause both an increase in gastrin hormone and gastric acid.12

Consumption Of Beer Or Wine

The journal Gut reports that some alcoholic beverages such as beer or wine can increase levels of stomach acid.

Researchers have found that fermented alcoholic products like beer and wine are the worst culprits. Beer and wine are stimulants and increase gastrin release and stomach acid secretion.21 However, chronic alcohol drinking can lead to hypochlorhydria.

Don’t Miss: Is Stage 3 Stomach Cancer Curable

Change Your Sleep Position

When you sleep on your back, acid easily flows from your stomach to your esophagus. If you find that your heartburn hits you in the middle of the night, this could be your problem. Try propping the head of your bed up with bed frame leg extenders, or buy a foam wedge that will keep your head higher than your feet.

Drinking Too Many Caffeinated Drinks

Coffee, tea, colas and other caffeinated drinks can cause excess stomach acid and aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux.

According to research published in 2017, the bitter taste of caffeinated drinks stimulates the stomach to produce more gastric acid. Scientists also discovered that caffeine pills can have a similar effect on gastric acid secretion.15

Some researchers are divided in their opinion on the effect of caffeinated drinks if a person has excess stomach acid and a peptic ulcer. Some studies seem to suggest that people with ulcers should avoid caffeinated drinks.16

However, recent research has suggested that people with peptic ulcers can drink coffee in moderation . Even though caffeine stimulates gastric acid production, there is scant evidence that it affects acid reflux.17

Recommended Reading: How Much Does Coolsculpting Cost For Stomach

The Causes Which Lead To Throw Up Stomach Acid

The first cause of throwing up stomach acid is no food in the stomach. When your stomach is empty, you will suffer some pains, including the vomiting of stomach acid. It is normal when you start to release the vomit because it is kind of the body defense mechanism. You need to keep your body hydrated when you feel nauseous and start vomiting. You need to be careful, especially when the bile has extended toward the esophagus and this condition is dangerous. While you are experiencing the vomiting, you should see the doctor and consult your problem.

The second cause is some intestinal obstacles. A small measure of the intestines leads to vomiting of stomach acid. It happens because there is an obstruction in the small intestines and it causes the bile vomiting. There are some substances in the stomach, including the bile and the combination of the substances goes down to the intestines. The bill, naturally, is forced out of the body by throwing up. There are some intestinal obstacles which cause the vomiting and some of them are gallstones, inflammatory bowel disease, and adhesion.

Low Stomach Acid Is The Cause Of Gord

Stomach acid can be the bane of peoples lives that burning sensation in the throat, continuous heartburn and a pesky cough are all symptoms of GORD, which is characterised by a backflow of stomach acid into the oesophagus. A reduced amount of stomach acid can lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure , which can cause the lower oesophageal sphincter to open allowing small amounts of stomach acid to touch the oesophagus causing the familiar burning sensation experienced in reflux patients.

You May Like: Is It Possible To Tighten Loose Skin On Stomach

What Medications Do I Take To Manage The Symptoms Of Gerd

Many over-the-counter and prescription medications relieve GERD. Most of OTC drugs come in prescription strength too. Your provider will give you a prescription for these stronger drugs if youre not getting relief from the OTC formulas.

The most common GERD medications:

• Antacids include Tums®, Rolaids®, Mylanta®, Riopan® and Maalox®.
• H-2 receptor blockers include Tagamet®, Pepcid AC®, Axid AR® and Zantac®.
• Proton pump inhibitors include Prevacid®, Prilosec®, Zegerid®, Nexium®, Protonix®, AcipHex® and Dexilant®.
• Baclofen is a prescription drug used to reduce the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter which allows acid backwash.

Low Stomach Acid Is The Cause Of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth /ibs

Stomach acid is crucial for the effective digestion of food, and when the level of gastric acid is reduced some food particles will not be fully digested allowing the bacteria in the digestive tract to feed on them. The low acidity of the stomach fails to eradicate bacteria successfully and this can lead to the colonisation of the usually sterile small intestine. SIBO is associated with IBS-like symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks On Stomach Male

Low Stomach Acid Symptoms

Can low stomach acid cause gastritis? The consequences of low acid symptoms or hypochlorhydria include indigestion symptoms, gastritis symptoms, and low stomach acid pain.

Hydrochloric acid is normally secreted by the stomach to perform a very important function: to enhance the breakdown and subsequent absorption of the food and nutrients consumed. So part of the cost of low stomach acid is malabsorption or an inability to properly digest and absorb vitamins and minerals. This is not only what causes heartburn and leads to the indigestion symptoms, gastritis symptoms, and other symptoms described above it also leads to osteoporosis, weakness, fatigue, cramps, anemia, and other nutritional disorders.

Stomach acid also serves a protective function, killing various pathogenic microorganisms that might otherwise cause infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The strong acid kills the various fungi and bacteria that are on the foods we eat. With too little stomach acid, you lack this protective function and you get an overgrowth of bad bugs, such clostridium difficile or candida in your GI tract. The result of low stomach acid is often a loss of the friendly bacteria, nausea, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms.

Consult your primary physician to develop a plan to treat low stomach acid.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• Whats causing my indigestion?
• What are some foods I should avoid to help with my indigestion?
• How much time do I need to leave been my final meal of the day and bedtime?
• Does sleeping on an elevated pillow help indigestion?
• What medicines will help my indigestion? Do they have side effects?
• Are there any medicines I should avoid that may make my indigestion worse?
• What should I do when nothing seems to help my indigestion?

Read Also: How Much Stomach Is Removed In Gastric Sleeve

The Problem With Antacids & Protein

If you have heartburn or anything that tells the medical industry that youve got too much acid in your stomach, they will prescribe you with an antacid and send you on your way. The antacids and proton-pump inhibitors are designed to reduce stomach acid. Some common examples of this type of drug include Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix. These medications are known to increase your chance of having a stroke. Plus, antacids decrease your bodys ability to digest protein and mineral absorption which impacts things like sodium, potassium, and calcium.

When you take an antacid, it moved your stomach PH to be more alkaline, which is something that you definitely do not want and heres why

In the presence of food, you WANT an acidic stomach. You NEED acidity to digest foods like proteins and absorb minerals. The PH of your stomach should be around 2.0 when youre digesting food properly. This is what I call the sweet spot for an acidic stomach. However, by taking antacids, you move your stomachs PH away from the sweet spot towards a more alkaline PH. When this happens, your body cannot digest protein or absorb minerals properly.

If you have too little stomach acid and you take an antacid, you disrupt your digestive protocol. You may experience symptoms beyond heartburn and acid reflux such as constipation, osteoporosis, gallstones, bad breath, panic anxiety, chronic bloat/gas, and a B12 deficiency.