Have you noticed a burning sensation and pain in your stomach quite often? Do you burp frequently and can't stop hiccupping? It could be due to acidity.
Most people experience acidity from time to time in their life. Long working hours, irregular eating habits, and unhealthy lifestyle choices could contribute to acidity. This is why you need a solution that’s quick, long-lasting, and one that gives you adequate relief.
But first, let's have a look at what acidity is, its causes, symptoms, and treatment methods.
What is Acidity?
Acidity, also known by other names such as acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), heartburn, and pyrosis, is a condition in which the acid-containing contents in your stomach move back up into your esophagus (food pipe), causing a burning pain in your lower chest area, often after eating (1).
What Causes Acidity?
Acidity is caused due to the excess production of acid in your stomach by the gastric glands.
The food that you eat passes down your esophagus, which is a tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. This food has to pass through the sphincter (a group of muscles between your esophagus and stomach, which regulates the passage of food) to reach your stomach.
The sphincter usually closes as soon as the food passes through, so that the stomach contents do not flow back. However, if the sphincter becomes weak or does not close properly, the acid from your stomach (hydrochloric acid) can go back up into your esophagus, causing acidity (2).
There are a few eating and lifestyle habits that may also cause acidity. Some of these can be controlled, while some cannot be controlled.
These factors include (3):
- Eating large, fatty, or spicy meals
- Including foods such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, and onions in your diet
- Drinking alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
- Snacking before bedtime
- Irregular eating habits
- Lying down immediately after a meal
- Being under stress
- Taking medications such as muscle relaxers, sedatives, antidepressants, or blood pressure medicines
- Being physically inactive
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Being pregnant
- Wearing tight clothes and belts
What Are The Symptoms of Acidity? (4, 5, 6)
The common symptoms of acidity include:
- Bloating
- Burping
- Hiccups
- Heartburn, a burning pain in the chest usually after eating or at night
- Burning pain in the neck or throat
- A bitter, sour, or acidic taste in the mouth
- Pain in your chest that becomes worse when you bend over or lay down
- Difficulty in swallowing
How is Acidity Treated?
Occasional acidity is common and can be treated at home by making lifestyle changes, such as avoiding foods that trigger acidity, eating smaller meals, and having food 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
Over-the-counter medicines such as antacids can also be used to treat acidity (7).
Why Are Antacids Popular in India?
Antacids are medications that treat acidity by neutralizing stomach acid. They provide quick relief from the symptoms of acidity. Here is what you should be looking for in an antacid:
1. It should have a high Acid Neutralizing Capacity (ANC).
It is the amount of acid that an antacid can neutralize. Hence, the higher the ANC of an antacid, the higher is its efficacy.
2. Its effect should be long-lasting.
A long-lasting solution to acidity is essential. Otherwise, it can keep striking repeatedly with recurrence of contributory eating and lifestyle habits. An antacid should provide long-lasting relief from acidity.
3. It should be easy to consume.
Antacids should come in various forms such as syrup, chewable tablets, and powder so that you can choose a solution depending on what is easy for you to consume (8).
Doctors recommend Digene, as it checks all the above boxes. Let’s find out more about Digene.
Digene: #1 Doctor-recommended Antacid
- It is an antacid that provides relief from acidity and its symptoms such as gas and discomfort in your stomach.
- It is also effective against symptoms of acidity, caused due to:
- Peptic ulcer: A painful sore on the lining of your stomach, small intestine, or esophagus.
- Gastritis: The inflammation of the lining of your stomach.
- Esophagitis: Inflammation of the lining of your esophagus.
- Hiatus hernia: A condition in which the upper part of your stomach bulges through your diaphragm (the large muscle separating your abdomen and chest) into the chest cavity (9).
- It is available in syrup, tablet, and powder form (9).
Digene Syrup/Gel (10)
- It is a sugar-free syrup containing magnesium hydroxide, dried aluminum hydroxide gel, simethicone, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
- This combination of active ingredients has a high ANC value.
- Available in mint, orange, and mixed fruit flavours, in 2 size variants - 200 ml and 450 ml bottles.
- Dosage:
- For Adults: 2 teaspoonful (10 ml), after a meal and at bedtime, or as prescribed by your physician.
- For Children: As prescribed by the physician.
Digene Tablet (10)
- It contains magnesium hydroxide, dried aluminum hydroxide gel, simethicone, and magnesium aluminium silicate hydrate.
- This combination of active ingredients has a high ANC value.
- Available in mint, orange, and mixed fruit flavours, in strips of 15 tablets each.
- Dosage:
- For Adults: Chew or suck on 2 to 4 tablets as required, after meals and at bedtime, or as prescribed by your physician.
- For Children: As prescribed by the physician.
Digene Ultrafizz (10)
- It contains svarjiksara (shudh), nimbukamlam (shushkam), and khatika churna.
- Svarjiksara acts rapidly and neutralizes stomach acid, nimbukamlam facilitates the removal of gas from your body, and khatika churna provides quick and effective relief from acidity.
- The powder has 50% higher ANC than regular antacid powders in the market.
- Available in lemon and orange flavours, in easy-to-carry sachets.
- Dosage:
- For Adults: Mix one sachet in a glass of water. Repeat after 2 to 3 hours if symptoms persist. Do not take more than 3 doses in 24 hours.
- For Children: As advised by the physician.
Scientifically proven superiority and validation are the core pillars of Digene, making it one of the best choices for acidity relief (10).
It is available across all leading e-commerce platforms and at your nearest pharmacies. For more information on pricing and other details, click here.
References:
1. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/expert-answers/heartburn-gerd/faq-20057894#:~:text=Acid%20reflux%20and%20gastroesophageal%20reflux,to%20your%20stomach%20(esophagus). Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
2. Available at https://familydoctor.org/condition/heartburn/?adfree=true. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
3. Available at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9617-heartburn-overview. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
4. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20373223?p=1. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
5. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/in-depth/gas-and-gas-pains/art-20044739#:~:text=Acid%20reflux%20or%20gastroesophageal%20reflux,responsible%20for%20some%20stomach%20ulcers. Last accessed on 13 July 2021.
6. Available at https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/palliative-care-knowledge-zone/symptom-control/hiccups-dyspepsia-and-reflux. Last accessed on 13 July 2021.
7. Available at https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/what-causes-heartburn-and-acid-reflux.html. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
8. Ayensu, I., Bekoe, S., Adu, J., Brobbey, A. and Appiah, E., 2021. Evaluation of acid neutralizing and buffering capacities of selected antacids in Ghana.
9. Available at https://www.digeneindia.com/products/#digene-tablet. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
10. Available at https://www.digeneindia.com/faq/. Last accessed on 12 July 2021.
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