Acidity

Overview

Acidity is a condition which there is excessive production of acid by the gastric glands in the stomach. It is normal for the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid (HlL). HCl is needed to break down food during digestion. However, acidity occurs when there is an overproduction of stomach acid. This can cause the reflux of acid into the esophagus. This leads to a burning sensation in the chest area described as heartburn. Apart from this, symptoms of acidity includes difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, restlessness, belching, nausea, bad breath, indigestion, constipation and a prolonged sour taste in the mouth. Acidity usually occurs due to unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles such as obesity, high intake of spicy and oily food, overconsumption of alcohol, overeating, and habits of lying flat after eating. Other risk factors for acidity are pregnancy, diabetes, hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease, and connective tissue disorders. The antacid is taken to relieve acidity. In severe cases, vagotomy is done to reduce acid production in the stomach.