What causes excessive stomach acid?
Sep 22, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
In general, excessive stomach acid may be caused by dietary habits, stress and emotional fluctuations, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, or other factors. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly to identify the underlying cause and receive targeted treatment. In daily life, one should avoid lying down immediately after eating, adjust dietary habits, ensure adequate sleep, avoid staying up late, maintain a positive mood, and undergo regular health check-ups.
Under normal circumstances, excessive stomach acid may be caused by dietary habits, stress and emotional fluctuations, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly to identify the underlying cause and receive targeted treatment. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Dietary Habits
Consuming excessive spicy, greasy foods or stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol can stimulate increased gastric acid secretion. It is important to adjust one's diet by reducing intake of irritating foods, eating regular, measured meals, and avoiding overeating.
2. Stress and Emotional Fluctuations
Excessive stress can lead to abnormal overproduction of stomach acid beyond normal levels. Appropriate psychological adjustments in daily life—such as exercise, meditation, and counseling—can help reduce stress.
3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Eating too quickly or overeating can contribute to GERD. Stomach acid irritates the esophageal mucosa, prompting increased acid secretion. Accompanying symptoms may include heartburn, retrosternal pain, and difficulty swallowing. Patients should take medications such as enteric-coated pantoprazole sodium tablets, domperidone tablets, or enteric-coated omeprazole tablets under a doctor’s guidance.
4. Chronic Gastritis
Chronic gastritis is primarily caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. The resulting inflammatory response leads to abnormal gastric acid secretion, along with symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, belching, and loss of appetite. Avoiding irritating foods helps maintain normal gastric acid levels. Patients should take medications such as rebamipide tablets, teprenone capsules, or colloidal bismuth pectin capsules as directed by a physician.
5. Gastric Ulcer
Gastric ulcers are associated with long-term consumption of irritants such as strong alcoholic beverages, concentrated tea, and coffee. After damage to the gastric mucosa, stomach acid directly contacts the ulcer surface, stimulating increased acid secretion. Symptoms may include upper abdominal pain, worsening after meals, and waking from pain at night. Patients should follow medical advice and use medications such as enteric-coated lansoprazole capsules, sucralfate suspension gel, or potassium citrate bismuth capsules.
In daily life, individuals should avoid lying down immediately after eating, adjust their diet, ensure adequate sleep, avoid staying up late, maintain a positive mood, and undergo regular health check-ups.
