Gastric hyperacidity: symptoms, causes and treatment

The stomach lining (gastric mucosa) produces about 2 to 4 litres of gastric juice per day. It consists mainly of water, hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. Gastric acid crushes food, prepares it for further digestive steps and kills pathogens. Stomach juices have a pH value between 1 and 1.5. To prevent the aggressive secretion from attacking the stomach itself, the stomach wall protects itself with a layer of mucus. If you have excessive acid in your stomach, your stomach lining is producing too much hydrochloric acid. This is medically referred to as hyperacidity.

It is important to distinguish between gastric hyperacidity and reflux: reflux causes the contents of the stomach to flow back into the oesophagus. This can be facilitated by gastric hyperacidity, but is more often caused by a malfunction of the sphincter between your stomach and oesophagus. Reflux symptoms can therefore even occur if the acid content in your stomach is not increased.

Hyperacidity usually manifests itself as a stabbing or burning sensation in your upper abdomen. In addition to stomach pain, nausea or, in severe cases, vomiting occurs, mainly in the morning.

Gastric hyperacidity can lead to reflux and the associated symptoms. These can include heartburn – a burning sensation behind the sternum, in your oesophagus and up to your throat – or a dry cough. In addition, frequent acid burping causes a change in the environment of your mouth and throat, which can lead to unpleasant bad breath.

Good to know: certain warning signs of too much stomach acid call for a medical assessment. Consult a doctor if your complaints are severe, persist for more than two weeks, if you have persistent stomach pain or if you have blood in your vomit or stool.

Gastric hyperacidity has various causes. Nutrition, lifestyle and medication play an important role:

Nutrition

Hyperacidity is often caused by fatty, spicy or high-sugar foods. Carbonated drinks and alcohol also stimulate stomach acid production.

Lifestyle

Hectic eating habits, large meals late in the evening and persistent stress encourage the development of hyperacidity. Due to the irritating effect of nicotine, smoking promotes an increase in stomach acid.

Medication

Certain medical products, especially painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid or diclofenac, can irritate the stomach lining. They stimulate the production of gastric acid and weaken the natural layer of mucus when taken for a long time.

Bacterial infection

Sometimes gastric hyperacidity is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori in particular causes the stomach to produce additional acid. At the same time, it attacks the protective mucous membrane of the stomach and can therefore cause inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).

Different treatments are available depending on the cause and severity of your complaints. As a first measure, it’s worth making specific changes to your nutrition and lifestyle. Household remedies can also offer quick and effective help. If these measures are unsuccessful, getting a medical assessment is recommended.

Changing your diet

With nutrition that is gentle on the stomach, hyperacidity complaints can be permanently improved and new episodes prevented. Selected foods neutralise excess stomach acid and soothe the digestive tract.

• Integrate a plainer diet: Choose low-fat, mildly spiced and easily digestible foods. Particularly suitable are green vegetables, potatoes, carrots, rice, bananas or lean poultry. Steamed fish or oats also have a stomach-friendly effect.
• Avoid irritants: Avoid spicy, highly acidic or very hot food if possible. This includes citrus fruits, vinegar, hot spices and caffeinated drinks. Products containing sugar, fast food or alcohol put additional strain on an already over-acidic stomach.
• Change your eating habits: Eat small portions throughout the day. In some cases, this already helps to reduce stomach acid. Consciously take your time eating and chew thoroughly – this will aid digestion. Stay upright for a while after eating and do not lie down immediately. Ideally, your last meal in the evening should be two to three hours before bedtime.

Pay attention to the messages your body is sending you: try to see which foods intensify your symptoms and what does you good. Avoid foods that your stomach reacts sensitively to. For one to two weeks, write down what you eat and what complaints you have. This will help you find out possible correlations.

Effective household remedies

Particularly for mild or occasional complaints such as heartburn, stomach pressure or feeling too full, home remedies can have a soothing, neutralising or relaxing effect:

• Medicinal clay: Medicinal clay is made of fine loess powder and can partially bind stomach acid. You can mix the clay with water or let it dissolve slowly in your mouth.
• Herbal tea: Fennel, chamomile, caraway and lemon balm also have a soothing effect and in many cases help with gastric hyperacidity. Tea is also suitable if symptoms occur in the oesophagus or in the mouth and throat.
• Chewing gum: Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva and supports the neutralisation of gastric acid in the oesophagus. Make sure you use sugar-free chewing gum, as sugar promotes stomach acid production.

A commonly used household remedy for gastric hyperacidity is sodium bicarbonate, which is found in baking powder, for example. Although sodium bicarbonate neutralises excess stomach acid, it should not be taken without consulting a doctor or pharmacist due to possible side effects.

It is important to remember that home remedies are not a substitute for a medical assessment. They are mainly suitable for non-acute symptoms of gastric hyperacidity. The effect of these remedies often varies from person to person. Try out home remedies carefully and in consultation with a specialist, and pay attention to how your body reacts.

Medication for gastric hyperacidity

If neither nutritional adjustments nor home remedies have the desired effect, medical treatment with the following medicines can help:

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPI): The so-called gastric acid blockers inhibit certain enzymes in the stomach lining. PPI therapy therefore reduces gastric acid formation in the long term. Proton pump inhibitors provide relief in the case of severe or prolonged heartburn in particular.
• H2 blockers: H2 blockers or H2 receptor antagonists are also acid blockers. They prevent histamine from docking to the receptors of the stomach lining, and thus inhibit the secretion of gastric acid. H2 blockers are not as powerful as proton pump inhibitors, but produce their initial effects more quickly.
• Antacids: Antacids are preparations that chemically neutralise excess stomach acid. They take effect quickly. This makes them particularly suitable for short-term treatment of acute complaints.

Important: take care when taking medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for detailed advice on side effects and interactions with other medications.

If gastric hyperacidity persists for a long period of time, the risk of serious health consequences increases:

• Irritation of the stomach lining: Over time, the stomach lining is attacked by the hyperacidity. The protective mucus layer loses its thickness and the stomach acid directly reaches the sensitive stomach wall. Continuous irritation can cause inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis).
• Damage to the oesophagus: If there is a weakness in the sphincter between your oesophagus and stomach, recurring reflux can lead to inflammation of the oesophagus (reflux oesophagitis).
• Ulcers: Severe gastric hyperacidity over a long period of time can lead to significant damage to the mucous membrane in the stomach or duodenum. Once the mucous membrane barrier has been broken, ulcers can form. These cause severe pain and can lead to vomiting or other serious symptoms and complications.

Long-term irritation or inflammation of the stomach and oesophagus increases the risk of severe changes in the mucous membranes or cancer. If the cause of your gastric hyperacidity or reflux is unclear or if the complaints do not improve despite appropriate nutrition and lifestyle changes, you are advised to consult a doctor. Early diagnosis helps you to take a targeted course of action and remain symptom-free in the long term.