The function of stomach acid is mainly to enhance the digestion and absorption of the eaten food, and to kill the microorganisms present in the eaten food, avoiding the occurrence of gastrointestinal infections, and secondly, the stomach acid can stimulate the secretion of bile, which is also useful for the digestion of fat.

Nowadays, more and more people are experiencing excessive stomach acid, which has a greater relationship with improper diet, irregular meals, eating stimulating food for a long time, and eating indigestible food. In addition, some coarse grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and even sodas, which contain a lot of starch, sugar, and acid, etc., can also induce excessive stomach acid.

How can patients with stomach problems recognize whether they have too much or too little stomach acid?

1. Symptoms:

Acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach pain will occur when stomach acid is secreted excessively, and this stomach pain is mainly characterized by burning sensation, whereas too little stomach acid will not cause acid reflux and heartburn, but rather some symptoms of indigestion, lack of appetite, and abdominal distension will occur.

2. Disease:

The disease of excess stomach acid is mostly seen in duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, reflux esophagitis, erosive gastritis and other diseases, while the disease of excess stomach acid is mostly seen in atrophic gastritis, functional dyspepsia and other diseases.

3. Examination:

It is the most objective means of detecting whether there is too much or too little acid in the stomach, mainly based on the measurement of basic gastric acid secretion, with a reference range of 3.9-1.98. If it is greater than 3.9, it means that the stomach is too acidic. The reference range is 3.9-1.98. If it is greater than 3.9, it means that the stomach acid is overproduced, and if it is less than 1.98, it means that the stomach acid is too little.

For patients with excessive stomach acid, especially those with long-term acid reflux and heartburn symptoms, it is important to have a gastroscopic examination to clarify the lesions of the stomach, because stomach acid is a kind of strong acid, and when the stomach acid erodes the gastric mucosa for a long period of time, it will lead to damage to the gastric mucous barrier and obstacles to the occurrence of the disease.

And for those who have too little stomach acid, long-term indigestion and bloating, it is also important to actively check, because the long-term lack of stomach acid will lead to the micro-environment in the stomach is changed, leading to the body's overall digestive and absorptive function decline, for some bacteria can not do effective eradication, will also lead to the occurrence of gastritis.