Acidity is common problem that many people experience at least once in their life. Acidity cause discomfort from mild heartburn to strict pain in chest and heart. Choosing right and best medicine for acidity it is important to check symptoms and avoid complication such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
This guide help you understand acidity, acidities causes, type of medicine and tips on how to select best treatment for your acidity.
What is Acidity?
Acidity occure when stomach produces acid, it can flow back into esophagus. It causes burning sensation in chest and throat. The stomach’s acid is necessary for digestion but when it overflows, it irritate in esophages and leads to discomfort.
Symptom of Acidity
You first understand the symptoms and it can help you choose the right medicine for your acidity:
1. Heartburn: Burning sensation in chest or throat, specially after eating.
2. Acidic Taste: Sour or bitter taste in mouth due to acidity in stomach.
3. Bloating: Feeling of fullness or swelling in stomach.
4. Nausea: Feeling queasy or vomiting in strict case.
5. Difficulty Swallowing: Sensation of food getting stuck in throat.
6. Chronic Cough: Causes by acid irritating throat and vocal cords.
Common Causes of Acidity
1. Dietary Choice: Spicy, fatty, acidic food, caffeine and carbonated drink can contribute to acidity.
2. Overeating: Eat medium meal because large meal increase stomach pressure and push acid into esophages.
3. Eating at Late Night: Eating dinner at late night can cause acidity symptom.
4. Stress and Anxiety: Stress and anxiety can lead on overproduction of stomach acid.
5. Medication: Certain drugs such as NSAID’s or aspirin irritate the stomach lining.
6. Lifestyle Habits: Smoking and alcohol consumption can make weak esophageal sphincter.
Types of Acidity Medicine
Acidity medicine work in different way to neutralize or reduce stomach acid.
1. Antacid
Antacid provide quick relief from acidity, it neutralizes stomach acid. They are easily available and antacid is first choice for medium acidity symptom. Antacid is also available in syrup and tablet form. This help heartburn, stomach discomfort and digestion problem.
Example:
- Calcium Carbonate
- Magnesium hydroxide
- Aluminium hydroxide
Advantages:
- Immediate relief from heartburn and sour stomach.
- Easy to use and easily available.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for long term use.
- Over use of antacid can cause side effect such as constipation (from aluminium based antacid) or diarrhea (from magnesium based antacid).
Best for:
- Situational or medium activity.
2. H2 Receptor Blockers
H2 Receptor blocker reduce acid production by blocking histamine, these chemical stimulate acid secretion in stomach. It provide long lasting relief but it not provide immediate relief.
Example:
- Ranitidine
- Famotidine
- Cimetidine
Advantage:
- It gives long lasting relief compare to antacid.
- It is effective for medium symptom of acidity.
Disadvantage:
- This medicine may take 30 minute to start working.
- It can interact with other medicine.
Best for:
- It is best for persistent symptom that occures few time in week.
3. Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
Proton Pump Inhibitor is most effective medicine for reduce stomach acid. It blocks acid pump in stomach king. And it provides long term relief.
Example:
- Omeprazole
- Esomeprazole
- Pantoprazole
Advantage:
- This medicine is best for old age acidity and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- It can heal damage caused by acid reflux such as esophogitis.
Disadvantage:
- It take time for show result (upto few days)
- Long term use lead side effect such as nutrient deficiencies or increase risk of fracture.
Best for:
- severe or old age acidity and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
4. Alginates
This medicine form protective barrier in stomach, it avoids acid from refluxing to esophagus.
Example:
- Gaviscon
Advantage:
- Alginate gives quick relief without significantly altering stomach acid level.
- It is safe for most peoples including pregnant womans.
Disadvantage:
- It is not long term solution for old age acidity.
Best for:
- Alginate is best choice for post meal acidity and heartburn.
5. Prokinetics
Prokinetic helps to improve stomach motility, ensures food move quickly and easily through the digestive system and reduces acid buildup.
Example:
- Metoclopramide
- Domperidone
Advantages:
- It is useful for people with delayed gastric emptying or bloating
Disadvantage:
- This may cause side effect such as drowsiness or fatigue.
Best for:
- This is best for acidity combine with digestion issue such as slow digestion.
- Choose Best Acidity Medicine for You
When you selecting acidity medicine, consider these things before you choosing medicine:
1. Frequency Symptom
Occasional Symptom: Antacid or Alginate are sufficient for you.
Frequency Symptom: H2 Blocker or PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors) offer better relief for you.
2. Severity Symptom
Mild heartburn can treated with antacid, it is best choice for medium heartburn.
Severe or old age symptom require medical consultation and possibly PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors)
3. Basic health condition
Pregnant woman should use safe option such as Alginate.
Who people have kidney problem should avoid magnesium based antacid.
Natural Remedies for Acidity
1. Herbal Remedies
Ginger: Ginger known for anti-inflammatory property, ginger can sooth the stomach.
Chamomile Tea: It reduce stress and help with digestion.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Dilute one tablespoon in water and drink it before meal to balance stomach acid.
3. Aloe Vera Juice
Aloevera juice soothes the esophages and reduce inflammation.
4. Probiotics
Yogurt and fermented food improves gut health and digestion.
Change Your Lifestyle for Avoid Acidity
Good medicine provide relief, but long term acidity relief require lifestyle adjustment:
- Avoid Trigger food: Spicy, oily and acidic food should consume less.
- Eat Small Meals: Large meal increase stomach pressure and it cause acidity.
- Walk after Eating Meal: Avoid sleeping immediately after eating meal.
- Lose your weight: Extra weight puts pressure on stomach and it causes acidity.
- Quit Smoking and Alcohol: Both weaken the esophageal sphincter.
- Manage Your Stress: Practice relaxation technique like meditation or yoga.
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