What is the acid in the human stomach. Norms for stomach acidity and ways to restore it What acidity of the stomach is considered high

Gastric acidity is measured in pH and characterizes the concentration of acid in the stomach. Shifts in indicators allow you to determine the presence or absence of diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, in general, assess the state of health.

The main role in the level of acidity is played by hydrochloric acid, the remaining acids in the stomach are presented in a minimal amount. The appearance of lactic acid indicates that the process of secretion of hydrochloric acid is disturbed in the body, therefore, its level is reduced to a minimum and, possibly, stomach cancer has already begun. Determination of acidity is an important point for making an adequate diagnosis. It is recommended to study the level of acid in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach itself to the duodenum.

pH value

Ideally, the acidity of the stomach should be between 1.5 and 2.0 pH, provided that the stomach is "empty". The maximum density is 8.3 pH, the minimum is 0.86 pH.

In a healthy person, gastric juice should contain 0.4-0.5% hydrochloric acid.

Diagnostics

The acidity of the gastric juice is best determined in a hospital or diagnostic center.

To date, there are 3 methods for determining the level of acidity of gastric juice:

1. Intragastric pH-metry. The study is carried out by special medical devices equipped with probes, with sensors for measuring pH, measuring the level of acidity. The technique allows you to simultaneously conduct research in several areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on the goals, urgency and condition of the patient, 4 subtypes of diagnostics are distinguished:
   1. express method, the study is carried out for 20 minutes;
   2. daily diagnostics;
   3. a short-term study conducted over several hours;
   4. endoscopic, to be carried out during the FEGSD period.

1. Fractional sounding of the stomach. Gastric juice is checked in the laboratory, after suction with a rubber tube. The technique most often gives distorted results, due to the mixing of juice from different parts of the stomach during the suction period;
2. Acidotest. The technique refers to non-invasive methods, the level of acidity is determined by the degree of urine staining. Allows you to determine the secretory activity of the stomach by uropepsin. Diagnostics is used as an additional one, since the results are not always accurate.

Definition without gastroscopy

It turns out that there are ways to determine the acidity of the stomach without gastroscopy and going to the hospital - litmus paper is used, which is sold in a pharmacy. The study is carried out after eating, after 2 hours, or 1 hour before eating. During the day, before the test, you can not drink carbonated drinks.

Red or pink litmus paper indicates an acidic environment, and purple indicates a neutral one.

There are other methods for checking the acidity of the stomach at home in other ways - you need to imagine a lemon, remember its smell and taste. If there is an increased secretion of saliva, then this is normal acidity.

Naturally, home methods are not the gold standard, and if you suspect stomach disorders, it is better to diagnose in a hospital to rule out possible pathologies.

Classification and symptoms

Any problems with the stomach and digestion make you nervous and think about what stomach acidity is, so you should know the symptoms characteristic of various pathologies.

Types of acidity:

• normal;
• increased;
• reduced.

The normal acidity of the human stomach confirms that the body is healthy and does not require any medical manipulations, in other cases, it will be necessary to diagnose and treat.

Increased

It is characterized by concomitant pathologies:

• gastritis;
• duodenitis;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum.

How to find out the acidity of the stomach without gastroscopy, with increased secretion - the answer is simple, according to the symptoms, it is:

• heartburn, heaviness in the gastrointestinal tract;
• sour belching;
• nausea, sometimes turning into vomiting;
• constipation.

Naturally, the clinic will make an accurate diagnosis, but for persons under 40 years old, and even more so males, the symptoms should be the reason for a mandatory visit to the doctor.

Reduced

Rarely accompanied by overt symptoms until atrophic gastritis develops. A decrease in the pH level in the stomach weakens the body's antibacterial barrier, and putrefactive bacteria begin to multiply actively, which can be seen by bad breath, belching has the smell of rotten eggs.

The patient may experience a lack of appetite, he has constant fatigue and weakness. Along with diarrhea and flatulence, constipation may occur. Reduced acidity often leads to allergic reactions.

Methods of normalization, diet therapy

Increased acidity. To reduce the aggressiveness of gastric juice, drugs from the group of cholepolitics are used. Antisecretory and antacid drugs have also proven to be highly effective. There are proven methods from traditional medicine, these are potato juice, honey, propolis and aloe tinctures. You can reduce the level of acidity with carrot juice mixed with warm milk.

During the period of exacerbation of the pathology, you should immediately stop taking hot spices, salted foods, naturally, refuse acidic foods and dishes. Throughout the days of the diet, food should be thoroughly chewed and taken in small portions. Cooking food will have to be steamed or served boiled.

Before each meal, drink bicarbonate mineral water, approximately 60 minutes before the start of the meal. During the period of decline in symptoms, you can introduce carbohydrate-containing foods, gradually introduce lean meats, eat soups with vegetables. Whatever the acid of the gastric juice, you will have to forget about alcohol and quit smoking.

You can quickly get rid of the symptoms of high acidity with the help of milk. But, this method is equal to the use of a potent painkiller, so you can resort to this method only in extreme cases.

Reduced acidity. This pathology is more difficult to treat. Drug treatment is prescribed to people only after the absence of the effect of therapeutic diet therapy. Conservative treatment includes the use of drugs to stimulate the production of gastric juice or containing acidin-pepsin. It is strictly forbidden to use medicines uncontrollably, only under the supervision of a doctor.

Alternative methods of treatment are also included in therapy, bitter wormwood is used as a tincture, fees from chamomile and St. John's wort.

In no case should you start treatment with medications, only a diet. The diet should be dominated by cereals, mashed potatoes and rice. You can not eat hot food. Suitable vegetable soups, dishes with a uniform consistency and steamed, not greasy. Only after the symptoms subside, you can start drug therapy so that the acidity becomes normal. Mandatory to use fruit juices with a sour taste. You can use vitamin complexes to increase the immune forces of the body.

The rate of stomach acidity is a guarantee of the health of the whole organism and the absence of the risk of developing severe pathologies that worsen the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, penis and the excretory system.

The increased acidity of the stomach has a negative effect on the digestive processes and the state of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort. Accompanies some diseases of the digestive system, including gastritis and peptic ulcer.

The acidity of the stomach, i.e., the pH of gastric juice, is determined by the concentration of hydrochloric acid contained in it, produced by parietal cells. Hydrochloric acid is necessary for the normal process of digestion. Its main functions:

• gives antibacterial properties to gastric juice;
• activates the action of digestive enzymes of gastric juice;
• denatures proteins, and also contributes to their swelling;
• excites the secretory activity of the pancreas;
• regulates the evacuation function of the stomach.

Causes

The most common cause of an increase in the acidity of the stomach is the alimentary factor, i.e. improper, irrational nutrition. Spicy, salty, fatty foods, alcoholic beverages have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, as a result of which the parietal cells begin to secrete hydrochloric acid in more quantities than required. Too fast absorption of food also belongs to the alimentary factor. In this case, a poorly chewed food lump, insufficiently moistened with saliva, containing too large particles, enters the stomach. For its digestion, a larger amount of gastric juice, and hence hydrochloric acid, is required, which leads to increased production of acid, and, consequently, to an increase in the acidity of gastric juice.

An increased concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice can cause damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

Other causes of increased stomach acid can be:

1. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and / or corticosteroids, as they have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa.
2. Chronic stress. By itself, it does not have a negative effect on the state of the digestive system, however, being depressed, a person stops eating properly, often smokes, drinks alcohol, which negatively affects the gastric mucosa.
3. Smoking. Nicotine has a stimulating effect on parietal cells, resulting in an increase in the acidity of the stomach.
4. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. It is a unique microorganism that can survive in an acidic environment. Once in the stomach, bacteria produce urease, which irritates its walls. In an effort to destroy these bacteria, the cells of the stomach intensively synthesize hydrochloric acid and pepsin.

Symptoms of high stomach acid

The main symptoms of hyperacidity of the stomach are epigastric pain and heartburn. The pain is pulling, aching and dull in nature, in most cases occurs 1.5-2 hours after eating. Heartburn develops as a result of ingestion of gastric juice into the esophagus. Often its appearance is provoked by eating foods that increase the acidity of the stomach:

• orange or tomato juice;
• spicy and/or fatty foods;
• smoked meats;
• some types of mineral water.

Other symptoms of high stomach acid are:

• nausea, and in some cases vomiting, which occurs 15-20 minutes after eating;
• belching sour;
• frequent intestinal colic;
• the appearance of a white-gray coating on the tongue.

Diagnostics

To determine the acidity of gastric juice in clinical practice, the following methods are used:

1. Intragastric pH-metry. With the help of a special device, the acidity of the stomach is determined in its various departments. The method makes it possible to carry out both short-term and daily pH-metry.
2. Fractional sounding of the stomach. The procedure is performed on an empty stomach. A thick probe is inserted into the patient's stomach through the mouth, and then the gastric contents are aspirated with the help of Janet's syringe at regular intervals. This technique allows you to evaluate the features of the secretory function of the stomach, as well as to conduct a laboratory study of gastric juice with the determination of its pH. However, fractional probing cannot provide accurate results, since gastric juice from different zones is mixed, and in addition, the probe itself irritates the gastric mucosa. Normally, the content of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice should be 0.4-0.5%.
3. Gastrotest, or acidotest. Before the start of the study, the patient completely empties the bladder, after which he takes special drugs inside. After a certain period of time, the patient urinates again and the acidity of the gastric juice is assessed by the degree of staining of the urine. The method is imperfect, so it is rarely used at present.

It is possible to detect an increase in the acidity of gastric juice at home. To do this, drink a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice on an empty stomach, which does not contain any additives. If after a while there is a burning sensation behind the sternum, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the epigastric region, then with a high probability the acidity is increased.

Increased acidity of the stomach accompanies some diseases of the digestive system, including gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Treatment of hyperacidity of the stomach

Drug treatment of increased acidity of the stomach is carried out with drugs of the following pharmacological groups:

• proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Pantoprozol, Nolpaza) - reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach by blocking H + / K + -ATPase;
• blockers of H 2 -histamine receptors (Ranitidine, Cimetidine) - block histamine receptors, due to which there is a decrease in the secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin;
• antacids (Phosphalugel, Almagel, Rennie, Gastal) - neutralize the hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, thereby eliminating heartburn, pain and discomfort;
• blockers of M 1 -cholinergic receptors, which have a predominant effect on the receptors of the stomach (Gastrocepin) - inhibit the secretion of pepsin and hydrochloric acid, have a gastroprotective effect;
• antibacterial drugs - therapy for helicobacter pylori.

To prevent relapses, it is extremely important to adhere to proper nutrition for a long time, and even better - for life.

With a pronounced pain syndrome, antispasmodics are prescribed (Papaverine, No-shpa), as well as local anesthetics inside (novocaine solution, tablets with anesthesin).

Some patients take a solution of baking soda orally to eliminate the symptoms of increased stomach acid. Soda enters into a neutralization reaction with hydrochloric acid, as a result, pain and abdominal pain and heartburn quickly disappear. But such treatment of hyperacidity of the stomach leads further to an even greater secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells. As a result of a chemical reaction between baking soda and hydrochloric acid, table salt and carbonic acid are formed, which is an unstable chemical compound that easily decomposes into water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide irritates the gastric mucosa, thereby provoking increased secretion of hydrochloric acid. As a result, there is an even greater increase in the acidity of the stomach. This phenomenon in medicine is called "acid rebound".

Diet for high stomach acid

Modern pharmacological treatment of increased stomach acidity allows you to quickly eliminate the patient's complaints and improve his condition. However, in most cases, after some time, patients again begin to suffer from epigastric pain and heartburn. To prevent relapses, it is extremely important to adhere to proper nutrition for a long time, and even better - for life. The main rules of the diet for increased acidity of the stomach are:

• eating 5-6 times a day in small portions (the so-called fractional meals);
• providing mechanical and chemical sparing of the stomach;
• a diet that is fully balanced in terms of the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and microelements.

For patients suffering from diseases accompanied by increased acidity of gastric juice, a diet No. 1 according to Pevzner has been developed, corresponding to the listed principles. During the period of a sharp exacerbation of the disease, patients are prescribed diet No. 1a for 6-8 days: dishes are prepared only by stewing or boiling, they are wiped and served warm, products that can irritate the gastric mucosa and increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid are excluded:

• raw vegetables, berries and fruits;
• alcohol, carbonated drinks, strong tea, cocoa, coffee;
• chocolate;
• spices, spices, sauces;
• dairy products (including cheese);
• bakery products.

Spicy, salty, fatty foods, alcoholic beverages have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, resulting in increased stomach acidity.

During the period of mild exacerbation, as well as with a decrease in the intensity of clinical manifestations of exacerbation, diet No. 1 is recommended. With it, dishes are prepared by stewing, boiling, steaming and baking in the oven (without crusting). Well-cooked meat or fish can be served in portions, all other dishes should have a mushy consistency. In the diet, foods that have a stimulating effect on the gastric mucosa, such as broths, are limited. Completely excluded:

• spices and spices;
• chocolate, ice cream;
• sour and unripe berries, fruits;
• cabbage, onions, turnips, rutabagas, cucumbers, radishes, sorrel, spinach;
• mushrooms;
• legumes;
• marinades and pickles;
• corn, barley, barley, millet groats;
• fried or hard-boiled eggs;
• spicy and salty cheeses;
• fatty fish;
• fatty meats;
• fresh and/or rye bread.

Treatment of increased acidity of the stomach with alternative methods

As with any other pathology, the treatment of increased acidity of the stomach should be prescribed by a doctor. In agreement with him, the therapy regimen can be supplemented with some folk remedies, for example:

• carrot juice;
• freshly squeezed juice from red potato tubers;
• water infusion of chaga (birch fungus);
• water infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, peppermint, St. John's wort, centaury).

Prevention

Prevention of the development of increased acidity of the stomach should be based, first of all, on the organization of proper, rational nutrition:

• eating small meals;
• thorough chewing of food;
• inclusion in the diet of foods rich in vegetable fibers, vitamins, trace elements, protein;
• restriction of fatty and spicy foods;
• refusal to use fast food, snacks, the so-called junk food;
• refusal of alcoholic beverages and smoking.

An important role in the prevention of increased acidity of the stomach is played by the correct lifestyle:

• avoidance of stressful situations;
• regular exercise;
• observance of the optimal mode of work and rest.

It is also necessary to treat infectious diseases in a timely manner, since they can lead to a violation of the secretory activity of the cells of the gastric mucosa.

Possible consequences and complications

Excessive content of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice is dangerous for the development of severe complications that are difficult to treat. The entry of aggressive gastric contents into the lumen of the esophagus is not only accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of heartburn, but also causes damage to its mucous membrane. Long-term gastroesophageal reflux is the main cause of the formation of an esophageal ulcer, and subsequently its possible transformation into a malignant tumor.

An increased concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice can cause damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Initially, such damage is superficial and is called erosion. In the future, the defect spreads in depth, which leads to the formation of gastric and duodenal ulcers. This is a serious disease that requires long-term systematic treatment. In the absence of therapy, it can lead to serious complications:

• ulcer malignancy;
• internal bleeding;
• stenosis of the pylorus of the stomach and / or duodenum with impaired patency;

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

The accumulation of acid in the gastric juice in humans is called stomach acidity. To determine the level of acid, you need to study the gastrointestinal tract, the dynamics of changes in the pH scale at different periods and with the use of medications. To change the amount of acid lead to malnutrition, snacks "on the go", debilitating diets, alcohol abuse, smoking, a state of prolonged stress, taking medications - all this adversely affects the human body and, especially, the digestion process, and the result is - pathology of the digestive tract.

The acid balance of the stomach for each person is individual, although it fluctuates within the established normal limits.

Norms

The minimum acidity rate is 8.3 units. pH, normal in the body of the stomach (empty) - in the range of 1.5-2.0 units, in the antrum the norm should be 1.3-7.4 units, and in the epithelial tissue - 7.0, the maximum indicator is 0 .86. For an acidic environment, a coefficient of 7.0 is neutral (normal). With an increase in the indicator, the environment is alkaline, with a decrease, it is acidic.

Functions

Main functions:

• facilitates the decomposition of proteins;
• forms an acidic environment for the enzymes of gastric juice;
• provides antibacterial properties.

A lifestyle in which bad habits are present negatively affects the production and neutralization of hydrochloric acid, which leads to acid-dependent pathologies.

Production and neutralization of hydrochloric acid

Located in the upper and middle part of the stomach, parietal or parietal cells produce hydrochloric acid. The density should be 160 mmol/l. The number of cells and the quality of synthesizing other components of gastric juice affect the final acidity and symptoms. These indicators will indicate the amount of acid.

The antrum is the lower part of the stomach responsible for the production of mucus. It acts as a protective layer that protects the walls from acid attack. In addition, acid-neutralizing bicarbonates are produced there, the antrum is the last section at the stage of food entering the intestine, where an acidic environment should be absent.

What happens?

To determine the diagnosis, it is important to analyze the zones of the stomach:

• "Lake" - range 0.9-2.2 pH (average 1.46-1.48);
• arch - 0.9-4.6 pH (1.58-2.34);
• back wall body - 1.0−1.8 (1.1−1.3);
• front wall of the body - 0.9-1.4 (1.0-1.2);
• antrum curvature - 1.3−7.4 (4.2−5.0).

Diagnostics

Use 2 options: aspiration or intragastric pH-metry. Intragastric pH-metry - to find out how the stomach functions, or the normal environment, an examination of the mucous membrane that covers the stomach is carried out using an acidogastrometer (special probe). Based on the results of the conclusion, a conclusion is made. Aspiration method - for research, the contents of the gastrointestinal tract are collected. But this method does not give an accurate result.

Assessment of acid formation

To determine the level of acid synthesis, short-term pH-metry is used. Measure 2 indicators:

• basal acidity - indicates the amount of acid in the stomach on an empty stomach;
• stimulated acidity - calculated after the production of gastric juice.

Acid Neutralization Rating

An important indicator of diagnosing the amount of acid in a person is the degree of neutralization. The difference between the minimum and maximum amount of acid indicates the degree of acid neutralization.

Signs of violation of the acidity of the stomach in humans

High acidity - excess hydrochloric acid. It has a negative effect on the stomach, destroys the protective shell of its walls. With high acidity, a person can get gastritis, ulcers, etc. Symptoms:

• pain between meals
• heartburn;
• belching;
• constipation;
• there is a tongue with a gray coating.

Low acidity is a malfunction of the cells of the stomach, which affects the development of infectious processes. Symptoms:

• smell from the mouth;
• dull pain after eating;
• upset or constipation;
• severe spasms;
• problem skin;
• bloating;
• weight loss;
• body weakness.

Treatment for high acidity

With hyperacidity of the gastrointestinal tract, the risk of increasing the possibility of ulcers and gastritis increases. High acidity helps to reduce the diet. It is good to use a decoction of flax seeds, jelly, oatmeal in your diet. It is useful to drink alkaline mineral waters. Be sure to eat fish, dietary meat, cereals, eggs, dairy products, non-acidic fruits. Forget about drinking alcohol, spicy fried foods. Watermelon is excellent. It reduces performance and cleanses the body.

With an exacerbation of the disease, people need to strengthen their diet and consume light dietary soups, viscous cereals, dried bread, a small amount of boiled meat and potatoes, sweet compote and tea for seven days.

To relieve increased acidity for a short time, it happens that you can drink milk. But this method should not be used often, as complications are possible. You will feel relief during a heartburn attack if you stop eating solid foods for a day. Pain can be relieved by applying a hot compress to the abdomen. The effect will be enhanced if you add 10 drops of lavender or chamomile oil to a small plate. With mild symptoms, it is allowed to do a light massage of the abdomen using the above oils.

Add cucumbers, beets and celery to your diet. They perfectly neutralize discomfort and improve digestion.

Problems with the digestive process are well treated with herbs. If heartburn attacks are single, then they should be brewed and drunk like warm tea. If the attacks are systematic, then the same herbs should be taken in the form of stronger remedies - infusions.

Chamomile has relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects, helps to normalize the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. If the symptoms are associated with excessive consumption of fatty foods or stress, then chamomile gives an excellent result.

Lemon mint is great for resolving a problem, especially if it is associated with nervous tension. Meadowsweet meadowsweet has a softening effect on the inflamed stomach, helps to reduce acidity. But you should pay attention to the fact that if there is a high sensitivity to the components, then refuse to use it.

Elm slippery also works great on an irritated stomach, softens and relieves discomfort due to heartburn. The remedy should be taken in the form of tablets, or 1 tsp. powder diluted in warm water before meals.

Diet with low acidity:

• drink and food should only be warm;
• eat often, a little, do not allow long periods of time between meals;
• minimize the consumption of spicy and fatty foods, exclude sausage and smoked meats;
• exclude milk, pastries, apricots, grapes, prunes - these are foods that cause fermentation;
• useful for the work of the stomach will be the use of acidic fruit and vegetable juices;
• try to drink healing mineral water daily;
• on an empty stomach, drink decoctions of medicinal herbs, such as rose hips, chamomile, licorice.

The secretion of gastric juice occurs through the work of the gastric mucosa. It is a colorless, odorless liquid with small lumps of mucus. Any deviations from this norm, such as a change in color and density, indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The composition of gastric juice is complex, since it is produced by various cells of the gastric mucosa. Its main component is which, in turn, is distinguished by a concentrated composition.

Composition of gastric juice

In addition to hydrochloric acid, gastric juice contains the following components

1. Bicarbonates (they neutralize the destructive effect of hydrochloric acid on the walls of the stomach).
2. Pepsinogen, which turns into pepsin (the latter is involved in the breakdown of proteins). Pepsin is divided into another family of enzymes, each of which has its own functions.
3. Mucus (it also protects the mucosa from destruction).
4. Castle factor (an enzyme that helps absorb B12).

However, the main component of gastric juice is still hydrochloric acid. She will be discussed.

What is hydrochloric acid?

It is produced by parental cells of the glands of the stomach, located on the body and bottom of the organ. In essence, the mucous membrane is divided into several zones: one produces hydrochloric acid, the other releases bicarbonates that neutralize it. It is noteworthy that in men there are several times more parental cells than in women.

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach has a strict concentration level - it is 0.3-0.5% (or 160 mmol / l). Its composition is so concentrated that if there were no protective substances in the gastric juice and mucous membrane, it would burn out its own stomach. That is why, with insufficient production of mucus by the stomach, a person develops gastritis or a duodenal ulcer. Acid is constantly present in the stomach, but in response to food intake, its amount increases. Basal secretion of hydrochloric acid (that is, morning) is 5-7 mmol / hour.

A healthy stomach produces up to 2.5 liters of hydrochloric acid per day!

The secretion of hydrochloric acid has 3 phases.

1. Response to the taste and smell of food. It is launched and transmitted from the central nervous system to gastric cells through nerve endings.
2. After food enters the body, a more significant phase begins. Gastrin acts on parental cells by stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid.
3. The final phase begins after the chyme (already digested food) enters the duodenum. Due to the increase in hydrochloric acid, the stomach produces somatostatin, its blocker.

What is the function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

First of all, it improves digestion, destroys most of the bacteria that enter the stomach with food, which slows down or even interferes with the putrefactive process.

What is the function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach? Below is a list that details this issue.

• Denaturation of proteins (this is the destruction of their molecular structure) and their swelling.
• Activation of pepsinogen, which is converted to pepsin, is one of the most important
• Creation under conditions in which enzymatic digestion occurs much easier.
• Evacuation of food from the stomach to the duodenum, where digestion continues.
• Antibacterial action - many bacteria cannot live in such an aggressive environment.
• Stimulation of secretion of pancreatic juice.

The role of hydrochloric acid in the breakdown of proteins deserves special attention. The importance of proteins in the body is enormous. This question has been studied by scientists for many decades. It has been established that hydrochloric acid in the stomach stimulates the production of pepsin, creating a favorable environment for its activity, promotes partial denaturation and swelling of proteins. In the duodenum, hydrochloric acid stimulates secretin production, improves iron absorption and has a bactericidal effect.

Proteins and gastric acidity

The role of hydrochloric acid in is still unclear. However, it has been established that in inflammatory diseases of the stomach, its secretion is disturbed and, as a result, the digestion of proteins.

The importance of proteins in our body cannot be overestimated. This group is divided into many subgroups, each of which is engaged in its own business. So, hormone proteins control life processes (growth and reproduction), enzyme proteins provide chemical processes (respiration, digestion, metabolism), hemoglobin saturates cells with oxygen.

The denaturation of proteins (this facilitates the process of their subsequent splitting) allows the body to use their properties to the maximum. Every protein is made up of amino acids. Most of them are synthesized by our body, but there is a group of so-called essential amino acids that enter the body only from the outside.

Acidity of gastric juice

Such an important aspect as the pH of the stomach directly depends on hydrochloric acid. And if there is a deviation from the norm, gastritis, dyspeptic disorders and other unpleasant conditions occur. Acidity in the stomach can be low, normal and high.

Despite the “popularity” of high pH, ​​often people have low or normal acidity. The latter is from 0.8 to 1.5.

Decreased stomach acid

Decreased acidity occurs with constant stress and inflammatory diseases. This happens due to the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system, which directly affects the production of gastric juice. A decrease in acidity entails a deterioration in the digestion of food and stomach cramps. Food remains in the cavity, begins to rot, enhancing the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. The person suffers from flatulence and nausea. The latter is a response to stomach spasm. Moreover, the process of absorption of all the nutrients contained in our food is actively disrupted, which leads to disruption of the entire body. By the way, it is on the basis of a natural decrease in pH after 40 years that a person begins to age rapidly. That is, hydrochloric acid in the stomach actually affects the health of the whole organism.

The stomach, surprised by the overgrowth of bacteria, begins to turn on the protective function, resulting in inflammation. He is treated with drugs that further inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid - and the circle closes. A person is forced to constantly visit a doctor.

Increased stomach acid

Despite the opinion of many gastroenterologists, hyperacidity is much less common than low acidity. The danger is that with prolonged juice, ulcers of the esophagus and stomach appear. The patient is concerned about heartburn and pain. This is where proton pump inhibitors - Omez and its analogues - will be useful. Symptoms are relieved with the help of antacids - Gaviscon, Phosphalugel, etc.

To diagnose high acidity, it is necessarily used because, according to the symptoms, it is easy to confuse it with low secretion.

Types of determination of stomach acidity

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach (that is, its level) is determined by several methods.

1. Sounding. It is done using a special tube through which the contents of the stomach are sucked.
2. Intragastric pH-metry. Sensors measure acidity directly in the stomach.

The second method is considered the most informative.

Stomach acidity is something that most doctors overlook, but in fact it is extremely important for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

The acidity of the stomach is of great importance for human health. It represents the concentration of hydrochloric acid content in it.

The essence of determining this indicator is to measure pH (the amount of hydrogen ions). Both an increase and a decrease in it in the most negative way affect a person’s condition, causing various diseases in him.

In order to determine the degree of pH in the stomach, that is, what kind of acid is contained here, there is a special scale. It is a ruler with fourteen divisions.

Usually the normal acidity of gastric juice is about two ph in the upper part of the stomach, that is, it is very pronounced. In its lower part, it corresponds to a level of about six pH, as it undergoes significant and multiple changes before being transported along with the food masses to the intestine. In the middle, it most often fluctuates around the four and a half pH mark.

Methods for measuring the indicator

There are various methods for studying the level of acidity.

Determining the level of acidity on your own

If a person has never previously suffered from any diseases of the digestive system or, on the contrary, is forced to constantly measure his pH, then he needs to learn how to conduct research on his own.

It is best to first visit a gastroenterologist, who will diagnose and suggest certain methods that can be applied at home. In addition, he will recommend the rules for following a certain diet and prescribe drugs to stabilize the activity of the digestive system.

You should closely monitor your well-being after eating certain foods.

Stomach acid can change due to the use of:

• lemon juice;
• apples
• vinegar;
• soda;
• millet porridge with the addition of cow's butter.

There is baking soda everywhere. Take a glass of boiled water and dilute 2.5 g of the substance. Then drink between meals. If an eructation appears, then a conclusion can be made about the norm of acidity. If the condition does not change, you need to visit a doctor.

When using porridge, an increase in the pH concentration will respond with heartburn. The same thing happens if you drink a small amount of apple juice on an empty stomach. Sometimes there is a sharp discomfort and pain in the esophagus, which clearly indicates an excess of hydrochloric acid. In cases where a person feels good, his pH is normal.

Alkalinization of gastric juice is calculated using apple cider vinegar. With the development of heartburn, it is required to take two teaspoons of the substance diluted in half a glass of boiled water. If the discomfort disappears, then there is a clear discomfort.

Good for testing pH litmus. It is a strip of paper with a slightly acidic environment, which is colored when interacting with gastric juice. Lowering the pH will make it red, while increasing it will make it blue.

The study should be carried out on an empty stomach, preferably around noon. The strip is placed under the tongue and held for ten seconds. Then they are compared with the scale attached to the test. You need to explore it, starting from the level of a neutral environment with an indicator of about seven units.

The analysis is done for three days.

Signs of excessive pH acidification

A decrease in the indicator makes itself felt by a number of unpleasant signs.

These include:

• heartburn;
• sour or metallic taste in the mouth upon waking;
• discomfort after eating;
• the occurrence of belching by air masses;
• constipation;
• pain sensations;
• flatulence;
• feeling of fullness in the abdominal cavity even after small meals;
• nausea;
• vomiting when overeating;
• yellow or gray coating on the tongue;
• general weakness.

Factors leading to a strong decrease in the pH of the medium

The main factors leading to an increase in acidity are most often unbalanced nutrition, congenital anomalies in the structure of the stomach, intoxication, or reflux esophagitis.

Sometimes infection with Helicobacter pylori occurs, the activity of which, if not treated in time, can lead to serious illness. The consequences then most often become gastritis or an ulcer.

pH Normalization Methods

A mandatory requirement for the stabilization of the patient's condition should be control over the food he consumes. It is necessary to follow a diet and eat several times a day in small portions. You need to cook only for a couple or stew dishes. Do not eat very hot or too cold food.

Products need to be crushed or ground, and then chew each piece carefully and for a long time. It is also necessary to completely eliminate alcohol.

In addition, the gastroenterologist prescribes to the patient antacids, drugs that create protection of the mucous membrane from the produced enzymes, as well as proton pump inhibitors.

If a stomach ulcer is diagnosed, then they are prescribed Bismofalk or De-Nol.

Symptoms of excessive pH increase

If the concentration of hydrochloric acid does not correspond to the norm and has shifted to the alkaline side, then most often the patient is tormented by:

• rotten belching;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• flatulence;
• rumbling in the abdominal cavity;
• heaviness in the stomach after eating;
• constipation alternating with diarrhoea.

Useful video

How to determine the acidity of gastric juice is announced in this video.

Factors Leading to Alkaline Shift

Most often, the causes that cause an increase in pH are various diseases of the digestive system. Most often this condition occurs with gastritis, duodenitis, pancreatic diseases, neoplasms, oncology, peptic ulcer.

Normally, hydrochloric acid in the stomach prevents the development of infection. Therefore, with its deficiency, pathogenic microflora rapidly begins to develop, which causes inflammation, accumulation of gases in the abdominal cavity, diarrhea and constipation, and frequent poisoning.

Often they are accompanied by a decrease in immunity, allergies or beriberi.

Methods for normalizing the patient's condition

In order for the reaction of the environment to decrease, the reception is required:

• of hydrochloric acid;
• choleretic drugs;
• enzymes;
• vitamins;
• trace elements.

In addition, you need to follow a certain diet. Each person should constantly monitor the normal level of acidity of their gastric juice, examining its indicators at home or in the laboratory.

You should also contact a specialist immediately in the presence of any unpleasant symptoms in order to avoid the development of serious diseases. It is worth remembering that any discrepancy between the pH and the norm seriously affects the general state of human health.