Standards for stomach acidity and ways to restore it

Food in the human body is broken down under the influence of hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach. The level of accumulated HCl is the acidity of gastric juice, measured in pH. Deviation from the norm upward or downward leads to diseases of the entire gastrointestinal tract. It is important to know the possible symptoms, undergo a timely examination and follow the doctor’s recommendations.

It is prohibited to take medications for gastric acidity disorders without consulting a gastroenterologist.

Symptoms and causes of high acidity

The stomach is one of the important organs of the digestive tract. Under the influence of gastric juice, food gradually dissolves, but not completely. But if you eat incorrectly, have bad habits and move little, this process is disrupted. The stomach begins to produce a lot of hydrochloric acid. Large pieces of food damage the walls, and gastric juice corrodes the wounds even more.

Then it is customary to talk about acute or chronic gastritis with increased stomach acidity.

An acute form of the disease occurs as a result of:

• serious food poisoning;
• inhalation or ingestion of chemicals;
• transferred infectious diseases.

The chronic form of gastritis occurs in the absence of therapeutic measures or independent drug therapy.

Gastritis with high acidity is more often diagnosed in patients aged 20-50 years.

Gastritis. Symptoms. Causes. Treatment with folk remedies

The cause of development is the impact of endogenous factors in the form of:

• eating salty, fried and spicy foods;
• following strict diets;
• frequent overeating;
• abuse of alcoholic beverages;
• stressful situations;
• smoking.

Aggressive factors for the development of gastritis are the consumption of large quantities of coffee, fast foods, and sugar. Lack of treatment can lead not only to a chronic form of the disease, but also to complications.

The symptomatic picture consists of external and internal signs. In the first case, the patient notes:

• frequent pain in the stomach;
• lack of appetite or, conversely, increased appetite;
• heartburn after eating;
• the formation of a whitish or grayish coating on the tongue;
• frequent belching of sour contents.

The acute course is accompanied by a slight increase in temperature, constipation, bloating and vomiting. At night, the patient experiences “hunger” pain. They occur when there is no food in the stomach.

Products that help determine acidity

Depending on the amount of free hydrochloric acid, a person reacts differently to various foods. Some of them reduce pain and remove unpleasant sensations, others provoke its appearance and worsen the patient’s well-being:

1. Lemon. People with low acidity eat citrus and don’t even grimace. Moreover, they use it daily. After taking a piece of the aromatic fruit, a pleasant aftertaste is noted. With an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid, the taste of the fruit is so sour for patients that they cannot even remember it without shuddering.
2. Baking soda. 1 tsp. Dissolve the powder in 100 ml of warm water. The product is used for severe heartburn, sour belching and hunger pain in the stomach. The solution neutralizes the effect of hydrochloric acid and reduces pain and other unpleasant symptoms that accompany hyperacidity.
3. Apple juice. Can cause severe pain, especially when consumed on an empty stomach. These symptoms can also occur when eating a sour apple on an empty stomach. This indicates increased secretion of gastric juice. The absence of unpleasant sensations is the norm. And the constant need for sour fruits and citrus fruits is a sign of insufficient acidity.
4. Millet porridge with butter. With increased secretion of HCl, it provokes heartburn.

It should be remembered that determining the acidity of the stomach at home is only a recommendation. At the same time, the results obtained are the basis for prescribing a more detailed examination of the patient in order to draw up an individual therapeutic regimen.

Increased stomach acidity (treatment with folk remedies)

Treatment with folk remedies will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms and stop the further development of the inflammatory process.

One of the most popular and effective remedies is a chamomile-based decoction. The herb has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. Drinking chamomile tea at night has a calming effect. The use of such a folk remedy allows you to get rid of pain, cramps and increased gas formation in the intestines.

To prepare the solution you will need 2 tbsp. l. dried herbs and 1 liter of boiled water. After this, you need to let the broth brew for 20-25 minutes. Strain. Take 3 times a day before meals.

Sage helps well with gastritis. It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic and antimicrobial effects. For gastritis with high acidity, it is recommended to make herbal decoctions with the addition of mint, cinnamon or dill.

Gastric collection is often used to treat the stomach. It includes:

• chamomile;
• calendula;
• nettle;
• mint;
• blooming Sally;
• St. John's wort;
• dill;
• calamus

The folk remedy is taken 3 times a day for two weeks.

Oats have beneficial properties. It is suitable for removing harmful substances and restoring organ function. An oat-based decoction has enveloping properties. Thanks to this effect, the folk remedy protects the gastric mucosa from the effects of adverse factors.

It is best to prepare oatmeal jelly or porridge with water from oat grains. To prepare the jelly you will need 100 g of oats and a mug of hot water. The broth is left for 10-12 hours. Then heat over low heat for 20 minutes. It should be taken warm, 1-2 tbsp. l. before eating.

How is it diagnosed?

For diagnostic purposes, pentagastrin is a stimulator of HCl production.
The acidity of the stomach is different at night and during the day, changing depending on the presence of food in it and its composition. In accordance with this, the following types of gastric acidity are distinguished:

• Basal - HCl level on an empty stomach.
• Stimulated - measured after the administration of a special drug or a test breakfast eaten by the patient. A 0.025% solution of pentagastrin is used as a stimulant at the rate of 0.1 ml per 10 kg of weight.

Probeless methods provide the lowest diagnostic accuracy:

• Litmus paper. A change in color under the influence of urine toward red shades indicates an acidic environment, and purple shades indicate a neutral environment.
• Acidotest is used if there are contraindications to probing. The hydrochloric acid in the stomach reacts with the ion exchange resin the patient is taking and produces a dye that is found in the urine. Color chart included.
• The fractional method is based on physical sampling of gastric juice and its further study in the laboratory. The result is not accurate due to the possible mixing of juice from different parts of the stomach.

To accurately determine the acidity of the stomach, you need to take measurements with an endoscope. A thin probe with measuring electrodes at the end is inserted through natural openings:

• In the mouth during short-term pH testing.
• In the nose - with daily allowance. In this case, a schedule of changes in acidity (pH - grams) is drawn up before and after the introduction of stimulants and irritants.

Medications for high acidity

Traditional methods of treatment can get rid of unpleasant symptoms, but they do not eliminate the cause of the disease. Therefore, patients are always prescribed drug therapy. They are effective for various forms of gastritis.

For the chronic type of the disease, antiemetics (Domperidone), enzymes (Mezim) and antibiotics are prescribed.

Acute gastritis is treated with antispasmodics (No-shpa) and antibiotics.

If the cause of gastritis is reflux esophagitis, then patients are shown drugs based on ursodeoxycholic acid, prokinetics and antacids.

The erosive form of the disease is treated with antibiotics, prokinetics, enzymes, and proton pump inhibitors.

To avoid the development of complications in the form of stomach ulcers, it is recommended to take combined (Almagel, Rennie), antisecretory (Ranitidine) and antimicrobial drugs (Trichopol, Omeprazole).

List of drugs

It is impossible to cure gastritis without the use of medications. Complex therapy is carried out, which involves the use of:

Painkillers. Eliminate spasm and pain. Effective drugs are Drotaverine, Spazmalgon, Ibuprofen.

Prokinetics. Stimulates the motor function of the digestive tract. Accelerate the movement of food through the esophagus. Patients can be prescribed Cerucal, Motilium, Zelmak.

Enzyme preparations. With gastritis, there is a failure in the production of enzymes. To replenish their quantity and improve the process of digesting food, Creon, Mezim, Festal are used.

Antacids. Normalize the level of acidity, neutralize the adverse effects of hydrochloric acid. Available in tablets or suspensions. Gastal, Rennie, Maalox, Gaviscon are considered effective medications.

Antibacterial agents. Used to destroy the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Amoxiclav, Metronidazole, Klacid are often used.

Proton pump blockers. Reduces the aggressiveness of gastric juice. Accelerate the process of regeneration of the gastric mucosa. This group of medications includes Omeprazole, Omez, Rabeprazole.

In the chronic form of gastritis, the doctor includes homeopathic remedies as part of complex therapy. They consist of plant extracts. They have a therapeutic effect, but only with the right dose.

What is acidity?

When food enters the stomach, it is broken down to the level required by the body and, already digested, passes into the intestines. The secretion of hydrochloric acid occurs constantly to ensure the conditions for the existence of proenzymes, in which the production and activation process are separated in time. This allows you to protect the tissues of the mucous membrane from self-destruction.

Total acidity is the sum of the reactants in the gastric juice. During normal operation, the splitting function is performed by hydrochloric acid; the participation of others is insignificant. According to research results, the appearance of, for example, lactic acid indicates that there is an acute lack of HCl in the stomach; this can occur with cancer.

The stomach is conventionally divided into 2 parts. Hydrochloric acid is formed in the upper cell, and alkali is produced in the lower cell to neutralize HCl. Additionally, alkaline mucus is secreted to protect the stomach walls. After food enters the stomach, the amount of acid released increases. When each part reaches a certain acidity, enzymes are activated. Any imbalance in the production of substances in gastric juice leads to problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Do's and don'ts for acidity

If you have high acidity, you should not eat spicy and salty foods, fatty meats and fish, rich meat broths, or fresh fruits.

The list of prohibited products includes:

• porridge - pearl barley, millet, egg, corn grits;
• legumes - beans, peas;
• meat - pork, lamb;
• stew;
• duck and goose meat;
• fatty fish - salmon, trout, salmon;
• any canned food;
• some types of vegetables - onions and green onions, white cabbage, cucumbers, radishes;
• sour fruits;
• bakery and flour products;
• sausages and semi-finished products.

Milk, alcohol, and coffee are prohibited. You cannot use mayonnaise, ketchup, chili.

The menu includes:

• pasta;
• buckwheat, oatmeal and rice porridge;
• chicken, turkey, beef;
• chum salmon and pink salmon;
• cauliflower, carrots, beets, potatoes;
• dried fruits and some nuts;
• yesterday's bread;
• honey, marshmallow, marmalade.

Drinks allowed include jelly, compotes, green tea, and fermented milk products at night.

Dishes are served baked, stewed or boiled. There must be breakfast, lunch and dinner. 2 breaks are allowed - second breakfast and afternoon snack.

What not to eat if you have gastritis. Acidity diet

How to determine stomach pH at home

The testing methods listed above are not suitable for home diagnostics, as they require the use of special tools. To independently check acidity, other methods are used. For example, pH can be determined by signs. Symptoms for low and high acidity are different.

You can do testing with Azur A. This allows you to determine achlorhydria or low acidity. First, the bladder is emptied (part of the urine is poured into a jar). Then you need to drink 50 mg of Betazol hydrochloride (dissolved in water). After an hour, the procedure is repeated again and the dye Azur A is taken again. If the acidity is increased, the color of the urine will be the same or slightly darker than the first sample. With a lower pH, the shade will become much lighter.

Diet for high acidity

If you have gastritis, you need to take care of your diet. Harmful foods, fast foods and alcohol-containing drinks are completely excluded from the diet.

Patients are recommended to use:

• steamed cutlets and poultry;
• buckwheat porridge, potatoes or boiled rice;
• oatmeal with diluted milk;
• rice or noodle soup;
• stale white bread;
• steamed omelettes or soft-boiled eggs;
• rosehip infusion, weak black tea.

It is better to replace coffee with chicory or drink it with milk.

It is important to reduce the load on the stomach and reduce the production of hydrochloric acid.

Dietary recommendations

For gastritis treatment to be successful, you must adhere to some nutritional recommendations:

1. You should eat 5-6 times a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner should be at the same time.
2. Products are stewed, baked or boiled. It is forbidden to eat fried and fatty foods, pickles, marinades and canned food. The menu does not include dry snacks on the run.
3. Maintain drinking regime. Half an hour before meals, you should drink 1 glass of water or herbal infusion.
4. Before going to bed, doctors advise drinking a cup of low-fat kefir or yogurt.

These recommendations must be followed at all times. Failure to follow simple rules leads to re-exacerbation.

Self-diagnosis methods

There are several methods for testing stomach acidity at home. For example, Acido- and Gastrotest. First, 2 caffeine pills are taken, then 3 of the dye. The results are assessed on a special scale. Normally, the color of urine should be pink, with high acidity it should be red, and colorless urine should have a low pH level.

Using Litmus Test Strips

There are special litmus tests on how to independently determine the acidity of the stomach. The strips are sold at any pharmacy and are easy to use. The test determines acidity using saliva. The strip should be placed on the tongue for a few seconds. During this time, the color of the paper will change. If it turns purple, then this is normal; pink or red means high acidity; blue means low acidity.

To achieve an accurate litmus test result, you must adhere to several rules:

1. Testing is carried out at least an hour before meals or 2 hours after a meal.
2. The best time to check acidity is 10-11 hours. During the day, indicators may fluctuate. In the evening, acidity decreases.
3. Before testing, you should not drink any acidic drinks.
4. On the day of the test, you can only drink plain still water.

It is impossible to draw a conclusion about the acidity level from one test. A person consumes different foods and drinks per day, so the results may be distorted. The reliability of the data is also affected by the rate of saliva flow. If it is high, then the liquid will not have sufficient concentration to obtain an accurate result.

Testing is carried out several times over three days. The average result is then calculated. In Moscow pharmacies, the price of strips can vary from 100 to 1,700 rubles. It depends on the number of pieces in the package, their type, and configuration. The most expensive are photometric.

Why is stomach acid dangerous?

If acute gastritis is not treated in time, then there is a risk of developing a chronic form. Untreated disease can also lead to other complications such as:

• stomach ulcer;
• lack of B vitamins;
• acute or chronic pancreatitis;
• stomach cancer;
• peritonitis and internal bleeding.

You can avoid unpleasant consequences if you consult a doctor in time.

Symptoms

An increased level of acid is accompanied by the following clinical manifestations: sour belching, heartburn, insomnia, redness of the tongue, absent-mindedness, painful spasms, burning in the esophagus, heaviness after eating and increased gas formation.

A low level is characterized by the following symptoms: lack of appetite, anemia, flatulence, rotten belching, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, gurgling in the stomach and dry mouth. In addition, mental disorder, indigestion, weakened immunity, metallic taste in the mouth, calcium deficiency, and dehydration are observed.

You need to know how to normalize stomach acidity using medications and folk remedies. It is important to restore it correctly by contacting a gastroenterologist.

Which doctor should I contact (tests, examination)

Gastritis with high acidity is treated by a gastroenterologist. But when the first signs appear, the patient can consult a therapist. After listening to the patient’s complaints, the doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe appropriate tests. The first step is to donate blood, urine and stool, and also conduct an alpha-amylase test.

Signs of gastritis have a similar clinical picture to meningitis, typhoid fever, myocardial infarction, scarlet fever, cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Therefore, the patient undergoes an examination, which includes:

• performing gastroscopy or fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
• X-ray examination;
• ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

To identify the cause of the disease, pH measurements of the esophagus, duodenum and stomach are performed. A biopsy of the gastric mucosa and examination of gastric juice are also indicated.

Gastritis with high acidity is a common disease. Timely consultation with a doctor, drug therapy and adherence to a diet will help not only quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms, but also eliminate the cause of the disease.