Burn baby, burn!
Owing to an increase in awareness, people are taking precautions to ward off major diseases like AIDS, cancer, diabetes, etc., but even seemingly “regular” health ailments can be detrimental to health. For instance, several people suffer from the problem of acidity, but many of them continue to live with it rather than fight it. Perhaps the reason why people do not take the problem of acidity seriously enough is because they are not aware that if it gets severe, acidity can be life threatening. Surprised? It’s a fact!
Fight it
It is important to treat even the smallest symptom of acidity, contrary to the popular belief that acidity is just discomfort in the stomach. The fact is that severe acidity can cause the formation of ulcers called peptic ulcers in the stomach and the upper small intestine (duodenum). Peptic ulcers can bleed and cause an individual to vomit blood and the person may even need to be hospitalised. The ulcers could perforate the intestine and can lead to a serious life threatening condition called peritonitis.
Cause and effect
Acidity is caused when the stomach produces extra acid to help the digestive process. The condition is also known as Acid Peptic Disease (APD), and while several people think that acidity is caused only due to a bad diet or spicy food, the fact is that several factors can contribute to the same including the consumption of
certain medication. Some of the most common causes of acidity
w Excess consumption of alcohol
w Stress and anxiety
w Excess or unprescribed consumption of pain killer drugs like Asiprin, Ibuprofen, etc.
symptoms are
w Heart Burn: Burning pain in the central chest region, which is felt mostly at night when a person is lying down.
w Dyspepsia: Pain or discomfort felt around the upper abdomen. There may be a feeling of bloating, fullness, nausea or flatulence.
w Ulcers: Sometimes acidity can lead to the formation of ulcers in the stomach.
Prevention
Despite being aware of the saying that, “prevention is better than cure,” people continue to opt for the latter, and neglect to attend to a health problem immediately. As with most illnesses, lifestyle is the most important factor that can contribute to or take away from our health. Therefore, a few lifestyle modifications can help keep acidity at bay. These preventive measures include:
w Timely meals.
w Limited consumption of spicy food.
w Limited consumption of
alcohol.
w No smoking.
w Regular exercise.
w Stress management.
w Avoid taking steroids.
Simple and occasional symptoms of acidity are
experienced by most
people, and life can be managed with home treatments or simple medication. However, if left untreated or if you do not make the effort to change you lifestyle to suit your health, the symptoms can get severe and persistent. In the case of a chronic acidity problem, it is advisable to consult a physician for appropriate assessment and proper treatment.
The writer is a consultant
physician at the Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad
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