The First Sign of Low Stomach Acid Is Not Heartburn, It is THIS Hidden Symptom

Many times, eating your favourite foods can cause heartburn and indigestion. Well, if you see a doctor, he will tell you it is because of the stomach acid, which rises into your esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms. Occasional acid reflux is manageable at home, but chronic acid reflux or GERD might need treatment as it can damage your esophagus tissues over time. Also known as hypochlorhydria or low stomach acid, the condition happens when hydrochloric acid or HCI - the most powerful acid your stomach produces – is less than usual. It causes trouble digesting food properly, especially protein. Over time, you can develop serious nutritional deficiencies, including being prone to infections, which can cause further damage to your stomach.

How does low stomach acid affect your body?

Doctors say stomach acid is necessary for digestion and absorption of protein, vitamin B12, and several minerals. When your body is no longer able to break down and absorb these nutrients, you end up with undigested food and nutritional deficiencies – including anemia and vitamin deficiency, which affects your nervous system. Calcium and magnesium deficiencies lead to osteoporosis. Undigested food in your GI tract causes a range of uncomfortable GI symptoms in the short term and leads to more serious problems in the long term. Low stomach acid also leaves you vulnerable to overgrowth of other common bacteria, including H. pylori, which is associated with chronic gastritis and ulcers.

Signs and symptoms of low stomach acid

Doctors say the first sign of low stomach acid is not heartburn, but bloating. When there is not enough acidity, food stays in your stomach or travels into your gut before it gets digested properly. When this happens, the food starts fermenting – leading to bloating and gas. A few other symptoms include:

• Stomach ache
• Gas
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Undigested food in poop
• Reflux
• Heartburn

Prolonged hypochlorhydria may produce symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, including:

• Brittle fingernails
• Hair fall
• Paleness
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Weakness
• Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
• Memory loss
• Headaches

What causes low stomach acid?

According to experts, the main causes of low stomach acid include:

Atrophic gastritis

Atrophic gastritis happens when the cells that secrete stomach juices atrophy and stop working. It is the end result of chronic inflammation of the stomach, and chronic gastritis can be caused by a variety of things, which include bacterial infection, alcoholism, and autoimmune diseases.

Infection

This common bacterial infection affects most people across the world. Initially, H. pylori cause no symptoms, but many times, it takes over, fighting and eventually decreasing stomach acid.

Acid-reducing medications

Chronic use of antacids, H2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors leads to low stomach acid. PPIs were originally approved only for short-term use, but they are now commonly overprescribed and used to treat chronic symptoms such as GERD and heartburn. Eventually, they can cause acid-secreting glands in their stomachs to stop working.