Burning throat due to stomach acid

The burning throat caused by stomach acid rising up is actually caused by excessive stomach acid. When you burp, some of the stomach acid is brought to the throat, causing discomfort in the throat. This feeling is called burning throat. When stomach acid rises up and burns your throat, you may feel like vomiting or scratching. Although it is very uncomfortable, there is currently no particularly good way to solve it immediately. The key to not wanting stomach acid to rise up is to prevent excessive stomach acid. So how do you prevent excessive stomach acid?

Excessive stomach acid: also known as hyperacidity, is one of the common symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.

A moderate amount of stomach acid can help digestion, but if there is too much stomach acid, it will damage the stomach and duodenal mucosa, causing diseases such as gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer. The human stomach continuously secretes gastric acid, and its basal excretion rate is about 10% of the maximum excretion rate. It varies during the day and night, reaching its peak a few hours after falling asleep and being lowest before waking up in the early morning. The gastric acid in gastric juice (0.2% to 0.4% hydrochloric acid) can kill bacteria in food, ensure the safety of the stomach and intestines, and at the same time increase the activity of pepsin to aid digestion.

Gastric juice plays an important role in digesting food. Normal gastric juice is acidic, ranging from 20 to 100 ml when fasting. Exceeding 100 ml indicates increased gastric acid secretion. Under normal physiological conditions, gastric juice secretion maintains a certain amount. If the secretion is excessive, the patient will feel stomach discomfort, and symptoms such as stomach burning sensation, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting of acid will occur.

What to do if you have too much stomach acid:

1. Medication

(1) Application of antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Excessive gastric acid (2) Antacids are divided into the following categories according to their effects: ① Absorbable antacids: such as sodium bicarbonate. ② Non-absorbable antacids: such as calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide (tablets or gel), magnesium trisilicate, etc. Liquid or powder antacids are more effective than tablets. If tablets are used, they should be chewed before swallowing. When using antacids to neutralize stomach acid, you should pay attention to increasing the frequency of medication. You cannot rely on increasing the dosage of the drug. Generally, take it once 1 hour and 3 hours after each meal and once before bedtime, for a total of 7 times a day. The duration of antacid treatment should not be less than 3 months. Inorganic weak alkaline substances can neutralize excess gastric acid, reduce the ability of pepsin to break down gastric wall protein, weaken or eliminate the corrosive and irritating effects of gastric acid on the surface of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and promote the healing of the ulcer surface. The goal of acid-free therapy is to allow the ulcer to heal completely, which usually takes 8 weeks. Symptoms often disappear long before the ulcer has completely healed. Therefore, the disappearance of symptoms should never be used as a criterion for stopping antacid therapy. Otherwise, symptoms will return quickly, which is actually a worsening of the original ulcer rather than a recurrence of the disease. The duration of antacid therapy should not be less than 3 months.

2. Surgery

If the symptoms of excessive stomach acid persist, surgery may be needed to effectively relieve the symptoms.

3. Dietary guidance

(1) Do not eat frozen or very hot food or drinks. The temperature of food should be moderate. Tea, water, and soup should not be too hot.

(2) Do not consume too much spicy, sour, or salty food. The diet should be light.

(3) Eat less spicy foods, such as chili peppers, garlic, onions, chocolate, citrus fruits, mint, tomatoes, etc.

(4) A small amount of ginger and pepper can warm the stomach and enhance the protective effect of the gastric mucosa.

(5) Do not drink alcohol or coffee. Especially alcohol, which can cause excessive stimulation to the stomach and make ulcers worse.

(6) Eat regularly and avoid overeating. It is best to eat small meals frequently. If you feel hungry or have stomach discomfort, eat a small amount first.

(7) Do not eat before going to bed.

(8) Do not smoke after meals. It is better to quit smoking.

(9) Raise your head or the head of the bed when sleeping.