How to understand if the acidity of the stomach is increased or decreased? Let's figure it out.
It is very important for the digestion process that the gastric juice has a normal acidity level. This level is determined by the concentration of hydrochloric acid. In our article, we will learn how to determine the acidity of the stomach. We will also find out what the signs of an increased or decreased indicator are.
Gastric juice and acidity
Acidity is an excess of hydrochloric acid and can weaken the membrane that protects the stomach. The increased acidity has an extremely negative effect on its walls. Such a process is closely interconnected with a number of pathologies and undesirable symptoms, for example, this leads to such ailments as ulcers, bleeding, gastritis, and so on.
How to determine the acidity of the stomach at home is interesting to many.
With regard to low acidity, it is a deficiency of hydrochloric acid and leads to adverse effects. With this form of deviation, the antibacterial activity of the acid worsens, due to which a significant violation of the intestinal flora occurs. The stomach contains an environment that is favorable for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, and, in addition, fungi. Therefore, when it gets there, the Helicobacter bacteria multiply, due to which various diseases appear, such as erosion, gastritis, polyposis and, even worse, malignant tumors.
Consider how to determine the acidity of the stomach yourself.
Self-diagnosis methods
Malfunctions of the digestive system with various types of acidity can be easily confused with other diseases, if you do not monitor the body's response to certain taste preferences. There are well-known tests for determining the acidity of the stomach. You must use the following types of products:
- Lemon test. Usually, people who have high acidity taste this fruit very sour. Those who have it low will easily consume the pulp or lemon juice, as this will not cause them unpleasant sensations. How else to check the acidity of the stomach?
- Baking soda test. To check acidity using this method, you need 0.5 tsp. soda, which is dissolved in water and stirred thoroughly. The resulting drink is drunk on an empty stomach and the state of your body is monitored. The absence of belching will indicate a decreased level.
- Test using millet porridge with butter. In the event that heartburn appears from this dish, it will indicate an increased level. Not everyone knows how to check the acidity of the stomach.
- Apple juice test. To check, you should drink such juice on an empty stomach. In the case of high acidity, there will be unpleasant, and, in addition, painful sensations in the abdomen. In the event that these sensations are absent, then this will mean that the level of acidity is normal. If there is a desire to consume apple juice or another sour product, it means that it is greatly reduced.
Here's how to measure stomach acidity at home.
Why is acidity lowered and what are the reasons for this?
Low acidity is a consequence of certain diseases, for example, gastritis, gastroduodenitis or stomach cancer. These pathologies are closely interrelated with a malfunction of the glands, which are responsible for the presence of hydrochloric acid. As such, low acidity is a rather serious type of pathology, as it creates an environment for the spread of infections.
Everyone should know.
Why does acidity rise?
The main reason for its increase is considered to be an incorrect diet, along with non-compliance with the schedule for taking food. Eating fatty and spicy foods, along with smoked meats, sweets, alcohol and coffee, has an extremely negative effect on the digestion process.
In addition, prolonged use of some type of medication can increase the acidity in the stomach. These drugs include hormonal drugs along with anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs. Smoking also has a detrimental effect on the stomach and increases its acidity.
Signs of low stomach acidity
The most characteristic signs of low acidity are the following factors:
- Belching along with an unpleasant odor.
- Frequent bloating.
- Feeling of heaviness in the hypochondrium.
- The presence of dull pain after eating.
- The appearance of a stool disorder.
Secondary signs of low stomach acidity, which appear after a while, in this case are the following symptoms:
- The presence of dry skin on the hands, and, in addition, on the face.
- The presence of fragility and delamination of nails.
- The presence of brittle and dry hair.
- The appearance of a rash and dilated vascular network on the face.
- General weakness of the body.
- Lack of weight.
- The presence of rapid fatigability of the body.
- Decrease in hemoglobin even with a balanced diet.
Consider below the signs of increased stomach acidity.
Symptoms of excess acid
This is a problem with no less negative consequences than the opposite. In a person, irritation of the stomach wall occurs due to excess acidity, which leads to the following symptoms:
- Heartburn after eating.
- Coppery taste in the mouth.
- Belching after eating.
- Pain in the stomach that is aching in nature.
- Severity with bloating.
- The appearance of pressing sensations in the abdominal cavity.
- Failure of the defecation process.
- The appearance of pain in the stomach after medication.
Secondary signs that can occur if untreated are the following symptoms:
- Decreased appetite along with apathy.
- Frequent discomfort in the stomach area.
- Frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting.
- The presence of a white-gray coating on the tongue.
As a rule, in the absence of such signs, acidity is normal (zero stomach acidity). But, if there is at least some symptomatology, it is necessary to consult a specialist in a timely manner in order to identify possible problems and subsequent adjustments. Knowing how to determine the acidity of the stomach is not enough. Next, let's find out what the diet should be.
Choosing a diet with high stomach acid levels
Any diet with acidity problems should be aimed at normalizing the level of hydrochloric acid and creating favorable conditions for normal digestion. When acid levels are high, you should avoid eating rich broths, and, in addition, hot snacks along with raw vegetables and soda water. From vegetables, it is allowed to eat boiled potatoes, carrots or cauliflower.
It is also recommended to limit sweets and flour products. Use of cereals, as well as mineral water, is considered useful with increased acidity. It is required to take products in a well-chopped and boiled form.
Low acidity and diet
With low acidity, the principles of the diet are similar, but fatty, peppery and salty foods should be excluded. With the normalization of health, it is allowed to expand the diet by adding meat broths, fish dishes and vegetables. Both diet options exclude alcoholic beverages. You should be careful with various spices, so it is better to remove them completely, as they can have a strong irritating effect on the stomach and aggravate unwanted symptoms.
Methods for determining the acidity of the stomach
First of all, you should know that its normal level should be between 0 and 9 mmol. Medical measures to help determine the level of acidity include the following techniques:
Home remedies for lowering acidity
You can try to reduce acidity through diet. To do this, stop the use of products that cause its increase, namely, we are talking about coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, sauerkraut, sweets, legumes, mushrooms, fermented fatty foods and high-calorie dishes. You should take more products that help reduce acidity, which include low-fat milk along with fermented baked milk, yoghurts, milk porridges, curd-fruit casseroles, carrot and beet juices. It will also be useful to use honey and medicinal mineral water, but without gas.
To lower acidity, you can use folk methods. An effective folk method is the use of herbal tea, infusions or decoctions, the effect of which is aimed at restoring the normal function of the nervous system. It is recommended to use mint tea, adding a couple of drops of ginger juice with a spoonful of honey. The tea prepared according to this recipe will not only calm the nerves, but also help the digestion process.
You can drink a decoction made from flax seeds, and dill seed tincture is also suitable. These products work to restore healthy stomach function. Number of applications per day: twice. A very effective method is to take tablets of activated carbon, which is able to bind excess hydrochloric acid.
Metal is needed to eliminate acid. Calcium is a good remedy for this. It is necessary to crush the shells from the eggs, mix the resulting powder with vitamin "D" or fish oil. It is necessary to use such a remedy with a sour taste in the mouth.
We have reviewed the main methods for determining the acidity of the stomach.
Prevention of acidity increase
If an increase in acidity occurs only from time to time, then such a condition rarely leads to serious consequences. But in the event that an increased level is observed regularly, then this can lead to serious diseases. In this regard, it is very important to observe the following preventive measures:
- Correct, and, besides, eat rationally. You should eat a lot of foods that contain fiber and protein with vitamins. It is recommended to take food in small portions, excluding fatty and spicy foods. Under a special ban, there should be dishes from the fast food category.
- It is equally important to quit smoking, and, in addition, the use of alcoholic beverages.
- Regular examinations should be carried out for the presence of H. pylori infection.
- You need to try to avoid stress and nervous strain.
- Carry out timely treatment of pathologies of infectious genesis, as they can lead to the development of complications.
Conclusion
How to determine the acidity of the stomach is now clear. But, in spite of everything, it should be remembered that in any case you need to seek qualified help from a doctor. After all, it is the specialist who, with the help of the intended diagnostics and clinical examinations, will help to make the correct diagnosis by prescribing adequate treatment.
Stomach acidity is an indicator that characterizes the normal functioning of this digestive organ. You can determine the acidity of the stomach in various ways. These are diagnostic procedures in a medical institution, and improvised means at home. An increased or decreased acidity will be revealed, regardless of this, any deviation is a pathology and needs correction and treatment.
General information
The stomach is the main organ involved in the digestion process. Inside it accumulates and breaks down the food entering the body. Its normal processing is ensured. An indicator that the stomach is working normally is its acidity level. This indicator refers to the concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice. Its content is constant and is 160 mmol / l.
If the ratio between the alkaline component and the acid changes, then they speak of a decrease or increase in acidity. When the concentration is overestimated, the acidity rises, and accordingly, a decrease in concentration below normal indicates a decreased acidity. Any shift leads to a malfunction of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and causes diseases of the organs of this system.
Instrumental methods
In modern gastroenterology, various instrumental methods are used to determine the acidity of the stomach. Such diagnostics are carried out using;
- intragastric pH-metry;
- fractional sensing;
- staining the walls of the stomach;
- using ion exchange resin.
Intragastric pH meter or intragastric meter is considered the most informative method. The procedure is performed using an acidogastrometer. This device is equipped with a probe and a pH sensor. The endoscope is inserted into the stomach through the mouth and readings are immediately sent to the attached transducer.
Fractional sensing will help you know the acidity of your stomach. This procedure involves suctioning stomach contents through a rubber tube. The resulting material is examined in the laboratory. But it must be borne in mind that the results of such a method may have an error, since the material is taken from different parts of the stomach and mixed during the suction process.
It is known that the organ under study has 3 sections, in each of which the acidity is different. Determination of acidity by staining the stomach consists in endoscopic introduction of the dye into the digestive organ. The indicator is assessed by visual examination of the walls of the stomach by how the color of the dye changes.
The use of ion exchange resins is considered the easiest way to determine the acidity of gastric juice, but at the same time the least informative. During the procedure, a reagent with a pigment is injected into the patient. In the stomach, it is released and enters the gastrointestinal tract. It then enters the kidneys and is excreted naturally through the urine. The conclusion is made by the color of this biological fluid.
This diagnostic method is used when the patient has contraindications to probing.
Instrumental methods are most accurate
Determination of the symptom score
The increased production of stomach acid is accompanied by the onset of certain symptoms. Increased acidity can be identified by signs such as:
- belching and heartburn;
- acid taste in the mouth;
- heaviness and pain in the stomach;
- bloating and stool disturbance.
Heartburn occurs every time you eat. In the supine position, this symptom worsens. A similar manifestation is due to irritation of the walls of the stomach produced in excess of hydrochloric acid. When the acidity is lowered, there is a disruption in the digestion process, the incoming food is poorly broken down, and the absorption of vitamins and microelements worsens.
A decrease in the concentration of gastric juice has the same manifestations as with its increase, with a slight difference. Signs of a lack of gastric juice are belching with a rotten smell, constant rumbling in the stomach, and a decrease in hemoglobin levels. If we talk about the general reaction of the body, then immunity decreases, a person becomes susceptible to infection with various viruses and bacteria. In addition, decreased secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach can provoke cancer of this organ.
A decrease in gastric acidity will be indicated by such additional manifestations as:
- helminthic invasion;
- nail fungus;
- brittle nails and hair;
- transillumination of blood vessels on the face;
- the presence of undigested food debris in the feces;
- acne on the body and face.
What methods are suitable for home conditions
Despite the fact that the state of stomach acidity is determined with reliable accuracy only in medical conditions, you can check this indicator yourself at home. One of these methods is a special test strip. Its action is based on the determination of the PH level. A special indicator is applied to the litmus strip, which enters into a chemical reaction upon contact with an acid.
The increased acidity of the stomach is always accompanied by bouts of heartburn.
The result is determined by the color of the strip, it changes. If the acidity is increased, the indicator turns red. With a reduced indicator, the litmus strip turns blue. It is recommended that you test on an empty stomach in the morning, between 9 and 11 am. To obtain the most accurate data, it is advisable to repeat the test after a few days. Comparing these indicators, you can get more or less reliable information about the issue of interest.
You can determine the acidity of gastric juice using ordinary soda. To do this, you need to drink a solution of soda: dissolve half of one teaspoon in a glass of cool water. If after this there is a belching or profuse regurgitation of air, then it is considered that the acidity is increased. You can check the pH of your stomach with lemon. It is enough to cut off a thin slice of citrus fruit and eat it.
If a strongly sour taste is felt, then the person has increased acidity. If the indicator is actually lowered, then the taste of the lemon will be perceived as not sour.
Plain apple juice will help answer the question about the level of acidity in the stomach. You need to drink the drink on an empty stomach and monitor your own reaction. With an elevated pH in the digestive organ, a person will experience painful abdominal cramps, heartburn, and a metallic taste in the mouth. With low acidity, there are no such symptoms.
The acid-base balance of the body is an important indicator of metabolism. At the slightest disturbance of this balance, a person is faced with serious pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. But this does not mean at all that at the slightest symptomatology you need to run to the clinic. You can independently determine the acidity of the stomach using the simplest experiments or using special test strips.
Symptoms of high and low acidity
0.5% gastric juice consists of hydrochloric acid, which helps in the digestion of food, facilitating its gradual movement into the duodenal cavity. In addition, it performs a number of other functions that are no less important for the human body:
- Promote the protein breakdown process.
- Activation of pepsinogens, which are converted into pepsins.
- Formation of a subacid environment.
- Antimicrobial action of gastric juice.
- Development of pancreatic secretion.
The subacidity of the stomach directly depends on the degree of acid content. It differs in its certain norms, the anomalies of which contribute to the appearance of discomfort in the body.
You can find out the acidity of the stomach yourself. For example, the following signs determine an increased level:
- Heartburn.
- Acute pain, accompanied by a burning sensation in the esophagus.
- Heaviness in the stomach.
- Belching with a characteristic sour odor.
- Pain while eating and between meals.
- Reddish color of the tongue with a whitish coating.
- Painful state of health.
- Absent-mindedness.
- Sleep problems.
Symptoms of low acidity:
- Putrid odor from the mouth, even in the absence of dental caries or periodontal disease.
- Belching.
- Poor digestion of food, accompanied by loose stools and, in some cases, constipation.
- Rumbling, bloating.
- Iron taste in mouth.
- Little or no appetite.
- Anemia.
- Nausea.
- Decreased immunity.
- The presence of undigested food fragments in the stool.
- Mental disorders.
Acidity rate
Gastric subacidity is the concentration of hydrochloric acid, measured by a pH meter. When a person begins to have problems with digesting food, pain in the stomach appears, then gastroenterologists prescribe an analysis of gastric juice and FGSD. All this helps to determine the state of the mucous membrane, as well as to check the acidity of gastric secretions.
For natural digestion in the stomach, special enzymes are required. The key of them is pepsin, which is formed only in an acidic environment. Nevertheless, in order for everything contained in the stomach to move into the intestines, it is necessary to neutralize this acid.
In the body, everything is interconnected, and with the slightest disturbances in gastric processes, such as gastritis, the entire digestive function fails. And this is already fraught with serious complications.
The norms of acidity of a healthy stomach environment are as follows (values are indicated in pH units):
- Optimality is 1.5–2.0.
- The maximum is 0.86.
- The minimum is 8.3.
- Antrum - 1.3-7.4.
- The epithelial layer is 7.0.
- The neutral number is 7.0.
If the level of the latter indicator exceeds the indicated figure, then an alkaline environment dominates in the body.
Determination of acidity at home
Pathologies associated with high or low acidity are detected at home using simple methods. To check these indicators on your own, it is enough to use the products available to everyone.
Baking soda
You will need to dissolve ½ teaspoon in 200 ml of water and consume it on an empty stomach. If after taking an eructation, then this indicates an increased rate. The absence of such a symptom indicates a decreased level.
The simplest home acid test, which will also help you understand what is happening in the stomach. In the case of an increase in the norm, the citrus taste is felt overly sour, and a decrease is the most common, when the person does not even wrinkle.
Millet porridge
When heartburn appears after eating this dish, the subacidness exceeds its permissible parameters.
Apple juice
If you drink a drink in the morning before breakfast, then in the case of an increased concentration of acid, a burning sensation will appear behind the sternum in the middle (in the esophagus) and a metallic taste in the mouth. The absence of symptoms indicates normal values. If, after sour juice, you want to drink something else similar, then this means that the concentration level is low.
Litmus strips
This option is the most accurate indicator for checking the acidic environment of the stomach. Litmus is a natural dye extracted from lichen. A piece of paper soaked in infusion plays the role of an indicator, which turns red in an acidic environment, and blue in an alkaline environment.
It is worth noting that measurements are best taken on an empty stomach from 10 to 12 noon. During this time period, salivation is less than, for example, in the evening. Two hours before a snack, litmus paper should be placed on the surface of the tongue and left for a few moments. You can find out your results using the attached color scale.
Reasons for acidity deviation
Hydrochloric acid is essential for the breakdown of protein and the digestion of pepsins, activation of pancreatic secretion and the fight against pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, controlling her concentration is a necessary and important occupation. This is the only way to normalize it in a timely manner, which means to rid your body of such serious diseases as gastritis, ulcers, and even worse - cancer of the stomach, intestines or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
The concentration of hydrochloric acid varies for a number of reasons. Among them:
- stress;
- Helicobacter pylori infection;
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking;
- overeating;
- the use of dry and heavy foods;
- fatty and spicy dishes;
- overvoltage;
- sleep problems;
- long-term use of medications;
- avitaminosis;
- hereditary factors.
In general, checking the concentration of acid in the body is not difficult and it is possible to do it even at home. However, you should not neglect periodic examinations by specialists. If necessary, studies will be carried out, including gastroscopy and intubation. This will help to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe timely treatment for gastroenterological pathology. It should also not be forgotten that a reasonable diet, getting rid of bad habits and stress is the key to not only normal acidity values, but good health and mood.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by an abnormal pH in the body. A significant decrease or increase in acidity negatively affects the functioning of the digestive organs and the body, therefore, the diagnosis of gastric acidity becomes a logical measure when gastritis appears.
The main constituent of gastric juice is hydrochloric acid. The stomach has an acidic reaction to food intake. An acidic environment is considered aggressive for many harmful bacteria, viruses that easily enter human food, causing poisoning. Hydrochloric acid normally neutralizes their effect. Essential for efficient digestion of food.
Between meals, a certain amount of gastric juice accumulates in the stomach. When a person eats, appetite increases, the content of gastric juice in the body at this moment reaches one and a half liters. The normal acidity level is considered to be a pH value in the range of 1.5-2.5 units. The environment in the digestive organs is predominantly acidic. A pH level below 7 units is considered acidic, from 7 units and above - alkaline.
The correct digestion process is provided by enzymes, the main one is pepsin. The specified enzyme is produced and acts if the acidity of the stomach is normal. The slightest disruption in acidity affects the quality of digestion and causes gastritis and other diseases. The rule works in the opposite direction - gastritis causes pH disruptions.
Hydrochloric acid is secreted by the stomach and neutralized in its antrum for normal absorption of food in the intestine. When an imbalance develops in the production and neutralization of hydrochloric acid, an increased acidity of the body appears. If the excessive production of acid occurs for a long time, there is a steady increase in it in the stomach and duodenum.
Symptoms of a decrease in acidity cannot be ignored, prolonged irritation of the gastric mucosa, especially in the presence of gastritis, is fraught with many concomitant diseases. Due to pathology, many disorders of the digestive system develop:
- gastroduodenitis;
- gastroesophageal reflux disease;
- gastritis of various types.
To understand that acidity is increased, symptoms allow:
- heartburn is a clear sign of diseases of the digestive tract, testifies to this in combination with other signs;
- burning sensation in the chest area and sore throat;
- belching with a bitter aftertaste;
- aching pain, paroxysmal, indicates the initial stage of development of ulcers;
- pain under the rib on the right side.
If you find a number of symptoms, do not delay a visit to the doctor. An increase in the pH level is a dangerous dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, with a long course, the consequences are irreversible.
Signs of low stomach acidity
Determine the acidity of the stomach, if it is noticeably reduced, it is possible on your own. Then you will need to urgently consult a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor diagnoses problems in the digestive tract and prescribes the correct treatment. Low acidity is no less dangerous than high acidity, it causes a number of characteristic phenomena.
The main symptom of a low pH is bad breath, which has the putrid taste of a rotten egg. The beneficial properties of hydrochloric acid are that the substance has an antiseptic, bactericidal effect on pathogenic microorganisms. Harmful bacteria enter the body, gastric juice processes contaminated food, preventing poisoning by waste products. If there is not enough hydrochloric acid, the protective reactions are reduced. In a similar way, viruses and bacteria enter the intestines, destroying the beneficial microflora.
A frequent companion of low acidity is constipation, followed by frequent diarrhea. Intestinal upset occurs due to the weakening of the protective mechanisms in the stomach, it is important to try to maintain the correct balance of acids in the body. Constipation is caused by deterioration of intestinal motor function due to lack of acid. The disorder cannot be corrected by diet or stimulant methods. Only a temporary effect will appear, since the root cause has not been eliminated.
Fermentation in the intestines causes discomfort, pain, and flatulence. Proteins are absorbed in the intestines, resulting in incomplete assimilation. An excess of decay products is collected in the stomach, which negatively affect the body, causing intoxication. Toxins contribute to a decrease in the body's resistance to viral diseases, a person's immunity decreases. In combination with these symptoms, fungal lesions of the mucous membranes, scalp, palms and feet are noted.
When protein metabolism slows down, a decrease in acidity leads to poorer absorption of vitamins and minerals. Avitaminosis is fraught with fragility and dryness of hair, skin, brittle nails and other external signs. Organs and systems suffer from vitamin deficiency. Avitaminosis is accompanied by iron deficiency anemia. Together with atrophic gastritis, anemia is considered a symptom of Addison-Birmer disease. accompanies B12-deficiency anemia.
Among the external symptoms of low acidity are troubles with the skin. A person has acne on the face and body, expansion of capillaries on the face. Undigested food debris is visible in the feces. After eating, a person is worried about heartburn, bloating and heaviness in the stomach.
How is stomach acidity determined?
How to determine acidity with gastritis reliably, the gastroenterologist knows. Indirect signs are called, according to which conclusions are drawn about a decrease or increase. Let us name a list of justified methods that establish acidity with an accuracy of tenths. Among the methods mentioned are:
Treatment of pathological acidity
If low acidity is found in a patient with gastritis without erosive damage to the mucous membrane, drugs are prescribed:
- hydrochloric acid and medicines that stimulate its production;
- to restore normal enzymatic function, pepsidil replacement therapy is prescribed;
- depending on the symptoms, the use of drugs with an antacid effect is mandatory;
- if there is an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, antibiotic therapy is used.
When the pH is low, traditional medicine suggests eating plants with a bitter taste, such as peppermint, wormwood, or calamus. The traditional method of dealing with the disease is adherence to the principles of dietary nutrition. Patients with gastritis are advised to give up whole milk, grapes, apricots, fresh baked goods that cause fermentation in the intestines. It is important to abstain from fried, spicy, fatty, smoked. You need to eat fractionally, do not allow long breaks between meals.
All of these principles must be adhered to even at high pH levels. Medically, he is treated according to the following scheme:
- the appointment of antisecretory agents that reduce the production of gastric juice;
- the use of antacid therapy with concomitant symptoms of gastritis;
- proton pump inhibitors that neutralize the effect of hydrochloric acid.
Timely measures taken will ensure the successful normalization of the secretory function of the stomach, remove unpleasant symptoms. In the presence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is important to be attentive to the quality and benefits of food, to seek medical help in a timely manner when the first signs of an exacerbation appear.
What is acidity, how to find out the acidity of the stomach, and what is it for? The acidity of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract can vary significantly depending on the section of the intestinal tube. Thus, the pH concentration of the stomach is low, and this is necessary for the activation of gastric enzymes and the implementation of physiological digestion. On the contrary, the acidity of the contents of the duodenum and jejunum is very low, up to an alkaline environment, which is also necessary for the activation of pancreatic enzymes and adequate digestion. However, there are many diseases of the digestive system, both dysfunctional and organic, in which an imbalance of the internal chemical environment develops. It is to determine a specific pathology and further effective treatment that a study of the acidity of the stomach is carried out.
Medical certificate
The acidity of the stomach, or rather, gastric juice, is an indicator characterizing the concentration of free hydrogen ions and hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice or in the whole of the gastric contents. This indicator is measured in pH, which is an abbreviation from the Latin pondus Hydrogenii, and in translation - the weight of hydrogen. Regardless of the diagnostic study or method, the main indicator is the study of the pH level.
In order not to get confused in terminology, you should remember a simple scheme: the lower the pH, the more the acidity of the stomach, and vice versa, the higher the pH, the lower the acidity of the gastric juice. Now you will understand what will be discussed.
- The upper zone, which consists of the cardiac, fundus and body of the stomach. This zone is considered highly acidic, the main secretion of hydrochloric acid occurs in it.
- The lower acid-neutralizing zone, in which the production of hydrocarbons occurs. Hydrocarbonates are substances that lower the acidity of gastric contents and contribute to the neutralization of hydrochloric acid.
It is these parts of the organ that must be taken into account when conducting a study of the acidity of the stomach by certain diagnostic methods. Thus, if the probe takes the contents of the stomach from the antrum or pyloric region, then the result can be interpreted as low acidity of the stomach. For the result to be as reliable as possible, the acidity study must be carried out in two parts of the stomach.
How to determine the acidity of the stomach without resorting to laboratory and instrumental research methods? Already before the start of the diagnosis, a specialist may be alerted to some symptoms and complaints from the patient, which speak in favor of a particular disease.
Acidity symptoms
High acidity characterizes a whole complex of clinical manifestations. The main ones include the following symptoms: heartburn, belching, bloating, heaviness in the upper abdomen.
Symptoms of low acidity
An increase in the pH level can lead to the appearance of erosive or atrophic gastritis, which is characterized by long and persistent pain of low intensity.
Important! If you yourself decide to find out the pH of the stomach, you should not rely on the symptoms, it is better to buy a special diagnostic product that can make an approximate assessment of the acidity of the stomach contents.
There are a number of stomach acid-related diseases. Most of them are associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract. Violation of acid production or its neutralization in the stomach leads to an increase in the acidity of gastric secretions and the development of dyskinesia of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Dyskinesia leads to diseases such as:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis. It occurs due to the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus, which leads to inflammation and ulceration of the lower third of the esophageal mucosa.
- Dyspepsia of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The aggressive environment of the stomach with increased or, conversely, decreased acidity leads to spasm of the smooth muscles of the organ.
- Gastritis and duodenitis. Increased or decreased acidity leads to the development of chemical irritation of the mucous membrane of the upper digestive tract and its inflammation.
Diagnostic methods
How to check stomach acidity? The study of secretory activity and the degree of concentration of hydrochloric acid makes it possible not only to determine or confirm acid-dependent disease of the stomach and adjacent sections, but also to determine the severity of dysfunctional manifestations of the disease. The most proven methods for assessing the chemical composition of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract are presented below.
How to find out the acidity of the stomach at home? You can independently determine the pH of the stomach with the help of special preparations. Ion exchange resins are the easiest diagnostic method to use. The person undergoing the study drinks a special drug (Acidotest or Gastrotest) in the form of a solution. These drugs are bought at the pharmacy in order to independently conduct the simplest pH meter. Once inside, the solution interacts with acid, after which a special dye is released, which is excreted along with urine. By its color, the state of acidity of the stomach is judged, for example, if the color does not change, then the acidity is reduced.
It should be noted that this method has low information content and is rarely used in the general medical network, but as an independent monitoring it is used at the request of the patient.
Determination of gastric acidity by the endoscopic method is best done on an empty stomach in order to better visualize the gastric mucosa and the degree of staining of the indicator.
At the time of gastroscopy, a small amount of a dye, an indicator, is injected into the stomach cavity through a flexible endoscope. Depending on the concentration of free hydrogen ions in the gastric juice, the indicator is colored with one or another intensity, which is registered by an endoscopist.
Probing refers to aspiration methods for studying the pH of gastric secretions. This method allows, after taking the gastric contents, to conduct a test with certain reagents in laboratory conditions. The method allows you to quickly assess the pH of gastric juice, but it is fraught with some difficulties. The diagnostic picture is distorted by such factors as:
- Increased secretion of hydrochloric acid at the time of aspiration.
- Inability to find out the exact area of taking material.
The method is undoubtedly more informative and accurate in comparison with the use of ion-exchange resins, but additional research is needed to establish a clinical diagnosis. This analysis or test is often used in outpatient practice before referring a patient to inpatient treatment.
In contrast to the test after fractional sensing, pH-metry has the maximum accuracy and information content and allows you to find out the acidity of not only the studied organ, but also the esophagus and even the distal intestines. There are three types of pH metering. They differ in the duration of the diagnostic procedure:
- Daily pH-metry, with this type of study, a person walks around the whole day with a special probe connected to an acidogastrometer. Intragastric daily pH-metry allows you to determine the concentration of hydrochloric acid, as well as to assess the dynamics of its secretory activity.
- Short-term pH-metry - the study is carried out in a similar way, but the duration of the procedure is no more than 3 hours.
- Express pH-metry. The express test allows you to determine the acidity of the contents of the stomach in 15-20 minutes, but does not reflect the dynamics of acid production.
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